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The country is safe. Let's just set that straight from the off, our Police and security services do a remarkable job in keeping the general public safe. If you look back through this thread you will see that I've consistently posted to that effect. I've posted statistics about the number of terrorism related arrests on a few occasions when this has been questioned. However, there will be times when attacks take place. Some will try and claim they are due to Police or security service failings, as Channel 4 news was starting to do last night, but some will be unavoidable. Sadly we as a nation have to accept that, just as we did in the 80's with Irish terrorism. I'm completely against the cuts in Policing, just as I'm against cuts in schools, the NHS, the ambulance service and the Fire Brigade. But I see that as an entirely separate issue to the one of self starter, domestic terrorism assuming that is what last night was. I just don't see the logic in saying more Police on the streets would deter attacks where someone uses a car and a knife out of their kitchen to attack people. You can't protect everyone, everywhere at all times on every street from a nut job in a car mounting a pavement and driving into people. As for what do I suggest we do. Well if I had the answer to international and domestic terrorism I would be providing it to people other than the good folk of VT off topic! However it's fairly clear that there is no answer or solution but many different things that need to be done, probably over many years. We need to look at our foreign policy, we need to look at how we engage with and in the Middle East. We need invest (as we are doing) in our security services, we need to make those services more diverse and reflective of the society they protect and like wise the Police, we need to work on better social integration of communities. We need to ask serious questions about how people are being converted and radicalised. We need to find ways of encouraging greater cooperation with the communities these terrorists reside/hide within. We need to stop demonising Islam based on the actions of a tiny fraction of their faith. We need the Islamic faith to accept and engage with the issue within their faith and communities in a far greater way. We need to look very closely at our prisons and the radicalisation happening within them. We need to stop cutting prison staff. The list goes on and on I'm afraid Dem and the truth is it's going to take decades. Just as it took decades to bring an end to IRA attacks in England. I've said several times in this thread that the sad reality was likely to be more of these attacks on our soil rather than less as ISIS is degraded in the ME. I'm afraid flooding the streets with Police won't stop that. It might give people a sense of security and peace of mind, it certainly will today in London where there will be a huge Police presence, but you can't stop what happened yesterday with Police on the streets.

What gives you the impression we have a soft underbelly? As Trent as alluded to in previous posts what we have here is a democratic, liberal and tolerant society that allows free speech and people to follow whatever religion they choose be it Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Cathology, Judaism etc etc and just like the atheists amongst us 99.999% of them do so in a peaceful manner. What we won’t tolerate is extremists but you can’t tackle that at the expense of being the things I mention above, being a liberal, democratic, tolerant society, as if you do then you are giving the extremists the biggest victory they will ever achieve. It is what they want. I was speaking to someone at work earlier about all this and we both agreed that given how easy it is to simply get in a vehicle and mow tens of people down or take out a kitchen knife and stab someone you’d think it would be more widespread and we’d have more of these type of terrorist attacks. The reason we don’t is that I don’t think we have as many of the extremists amongst us as some believe. They are a tiny minority that need addressing but you don’t do that by becoming an intolerant society.

I tell you what I don't like. Dickheads. Dickheads of all races, religions, genders/cabbages, if that's what they're identifying as that day. Dickheads really piss me off but they're everywhere, in every walk of life.

You can't be entirely safe from this. It's a near enough random act of violence. You can cash in as much freedom as you like, you'll still have this happen, and I don't want to cash that much more liberty in frankly.

Last year at least 71 people were accidentally killed as pedestrians in London. In 2017, there has already been 17 cyclist/pedestrian deaths... In London. In 2016, there were 0 (zero) deaths as a result of terrorist attacks in London. In 2017, 5 people have been killed as a result of terrorist attacks in London. We're incredibly lucky to have London as our capital city. A city with a population of 8.674 MILLION people. There is absolutely, no way of controlling everybody's actions. Nor would I want to live in a place where that was true - imagine everything you did, on a phone, computer, actively did through work, in your downtime - all recorded.. Just in case you did something you weren't meant to. Every time you when 35mph in a 30 zone, by accident or on purpose, punished.. It would be horrible. These terrorist attacks make international news, instantly. Within 2 minutes there were 100s of cameras looking towards the spots where people were killed. It's really easy to say what you see (if you see it, say it). But it's hard to put it into a context in the wider situation. You're more likely to kill yourself by accident than you are by a terrorist.. Would being killed by a terrorist be fun? **** no! But you have to put it into context. Based on the stats above, should we be banning cars? Put unbreakable defenses where pedestrians and cyclists go? Of course not. And nor should we pump money we haven't got, on a problem that is so, so, so unlikely. Get on with your life, be as happy as you can, be as kind as you can and when you're a bit flush, give something back (not necessarily money, time is a great thing).

I guess it depends on how you define terrorism. One man's terrorism is another man's war, and vice versa. My point was to subtly illustrate that not all terrorism is derived from Islam, and if people on the far right of the political spectrum believe that Muslims should be kicked out and banned or whatever, you could take your "statistic" and say that as far as the UK is concerned 99% of terrorism is committed by Irish Christians. Rewind back as recently as the mid-late 90s and it was ALL ABOUT Irish terrorism as far as the UK was concerned. I've covered this point several times before on VT, but compare yesterday with the pub bombings in Birmingham, or the bombings in Manchester, Warrington, the Tory conference in Brighton. But yeah, brown people. So...

those people are sheep fed a diet of Facebook ,twitter and Katie Hopkins types ... it's like everyone is taking part in a real world version of QI and showing their general ignorance It's a shame these people just take the lazy option of "share if you agree" instead of bothering to educate themselves better there is a lot about Islam not to like , but like the saying goes , when the IRA were bombing London we didn't ban Irish people or Catholics , we just understood it was a small group of words removed

I just tweeted him this

W W W W W W W W W in my opinion, though I am known for being a little pessimistic at times.....

We're at the point where previously 'kind' fixtures on paper become trickier on grass as sides begin to look over their shoulder and put in performances they hadn't to that point. Let's briefly analyse just what; if anything; our opponents have on their plate. Here's where they all sit in the league. 8th, 15th, 21st, 5th, 7th, 18th, 22nd, 2nd. Of the above, home to Norwich (8th) who are still very much in the playoff hunt. Home to QPR (15) who are currently one of the form sides in the league. Away to Burton (21) who are fighting for their lives and have lost once in their last 7. Home to Reading (5) who are trying to secure their playoff place. Away to Fulham (7) who are in the same boat as Norwich. Home against the unwashed (18) is a banana skin that needs no further explanation (although I expect a win). Away at Blackburn (22) who are in their own desperate fight for survival, and finally we finish home versus Brighton (2) who are trying to go up automatically. So actually, it appears that the only side we face who are safe from promotion or relegation are QPR, and they've just found some serious form. Obviously on our day we're capable of beating any and all of the above, but we know how football works. We'll get some of those on one of their good days or we'll get a terrible referee. The other thing to say is that some of the above scenarios may well have sorted themselves out by the time our fixture comes around. The final day against Brighton for example might well be a dead rubber by then. But as it stands, it seems as though every opponent bar one has a particular reason not to be on their summer holidays quite yet. And that's probably not a good thing.

On the whole I agree with you, but it's also important to consider the part I've highlighted in bold. My dig wasn't aimed at anyone who questions Islam, but is aimed at anyone who only questions Islam. As you rightly say, any religion brings issues - but then similarly there are plenty of non-religious folks who are unutterable bell ends as well. Certainly from what I've seen on Twitter (yeah, I know) lots of people make comments about how Muslims should respect that Britain is a Christian country or "go home". Is it? I'm not one. I probably only know about 4 people under the age of 65 who regularly attend church. The final part of your post asks me not to shout people down as racist for not liking a particular religion. I disagree, and I won't stop. It's fine to not like religion as a whole, I think it's pretty sketchy to start suggesting some religions are ok and some aren't.

I too have friends that served in the British army. They are nice guys, but that doesn't blind me to the fact that the British army (like all armies) has done some seriously evil stuff, or that the Irish Catholic/Republican community had (and have) some serious grievances. I also have friends who have had tangential connections to the IRA. Also nice guys. That doesn't blind me to the fact that the paramilitaries (on both 'sides') were frequently no better than criminal gangs. At some point we have to let it go, or face more centuries of blood feuds that perpetuate entirely spurious divisions in communities that have far more in common than they have been conditioned to believe. I'm sure that many of the people pointing out McGuiness's dubious past would praise Nelson Mandela - whose history was not so different. Terrorists or freedom fighters? Maybe both, maybe neither. Let's not turn VT into another social media ranting platform.

No.

Who are 'us'? Surely anyone who isn't a terrorist but is a potential victim is an 'us', including a Muslim person?

My cousin served in Northern Ireland with his best mate. One of them never came back. They never killed anyone, they were just doing a job to support their family back home. I'd appreciate you didn't call them "murdering scumbags". I know it might be hard for an IRA supporter to understand. But they were simply defending our land of Northern Ireland and one of them gave their life for it.

This is the best post I've ever read. You make up a statistic and then suggest people are wrong for ignoring statistics.

Just a bit of a laugh isn't it?? Some proper miserable **** around. I think it's hilarious.

Starting to understand why VT is so obsessed with beards

English fans are horrific travellers. Particularly because of the ridiculous amount of alcohol, complete lack of any respect for the culture of the other country and then, of course, trashing the place.

But Saturday night's alright, alright, alright?

I don't really get the hate for Bacuna.

A barber dry shaving the back of your neck. You're a barber. A professional. You have all the tools of your trade at your disposal. I'm here for one **** thing and you DRY shave my neck. Now it looks like a **** turkey's chin and my shirt collar feels like heated sandpaper. You're an embarrassment to your trade you **** sham-artist.

Aye but who is gonna read an article with the byline *Model professional gives sensible and predictible answers to slightly inane question"

No but then we don't use capital punishment and remove people's heads in public as a display of control. Although Katie Hopkins makes it tempting at times.... We are fortunate to live in a free, democratic and liberal society. We have to embrace that and be grateful for it. We also need to protect it in the face of creeping state surveillance of everyone (except MP's) although I differ from some on where I draw that particular boundary. Yes we need to tackle extremism and those who preach hate (irrespective of their colour or religion) and take advantage of the freedoms most of us take for granted. Your post implies that it is the Saudi's that have things right not us and that very clearly isn't the case. Perhaps you didn't mean that and you were just pointing out the imbalance of tolerance between the two countries, in which case I agree only I think that's a positive about Britain not a negative.

Went on a date in Wallall with some bird - early days but got a snog out of her. Let her have a feel of my anaconda at the end of the night which she seemed to like.

Yup, I don't like yobbish football fans, who chant about past atrocities & wreck places. I don't like people who use conditions they may/may not have to get things they don't deserve. I don't like large businesses and the people who work in them, who are in it for themselves and step over their colleagues to get higher. I don't like terrorists. I don't like people who are aggressive in their nature and go out on a Friday night to get into a punch up. I don't like lazy, entitled people, with or without money. I don't like show offs and "look what I have's". I don't like lairs, cheaters or haters or anyone else who will interrupt me living an easy and happy life.

The woman at work who claims that due to her illness fruit and veg make her put on weight and junk food makes her lose it so sits at work stuffing her face all day. She must eat loads of healthy food at home in secret though as she's putting a bit of weight on.

Yep, I also know a "para" who served in NI. He's a lovely bloke who attends/organises all sorts of charity do's. His son has Down's Syndrome and he raised enough money + more to help fund his son and a team of Special Olympians get to the winter Olympics a few years ago, his son is now the extremely proud owner of an Olympic Gold medal in Slalom Skiing. Many of the team this man helped to get over there (no funding for the Special Olympics back then) also won medals. He lost friends over there, but never speaks about it, only very vaguely and you couldn't meet a more generous person if you tried. He's even helped me out when I moved into my first home with furniture and free financial advice (he's a financial advisor) and I don't have that much to do with him in fairness, but he's a genuine good guy. The army to him was a way out of a deprived Liverpool in the 60s, it was a job where he met his wife (a nurse who nursed him when he jumped out of a plane and broke his legs). He goes to Arnhem yearly for the WW2 festival for Market Garden, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and is genuinely one of the most interesting people I know. Strange how politics can remove the humanity because of what the people involved chose to do for themselves.

Strange by line, trying to make a drama where there isn't one, "isn't enthralled" well he wasn't exactly downbeat about it either, just very professional responses.

Up until 2014, Islamic terrorism made up around 1% of all terrorist attacks in the EU according to Europol report data. In 2015 that number spiked to 5% with all the attacks that year. I imagine that number will be even higher for 2016 when those figures are released in a few months. But yeah, that isn't anywhere near the figure you pulled out of your ass. In fact, the reverse is true. Here are a few of the reports if you're interested. If you're not willing to sift through 60 odd pages, scroll down to the tables and do the math yourself. 2015 2014 2013

it actually needs fewer likes as it couldn't even spell Schengen correctly

Alternatively, on form we are top and facing 16th, 2nd, 14th, 15th, 10th, 20th, 5th and 11th. With the most in form teams being QPR at home and Blackburn away. Looks a bit more optimistic.

Simple 8 wins No excuses We finish where we finish. Our season was lost twice

Basically we know he's a greedy bastard, but he's pretty good.

Saudi Arabia is another example of twisting a religion. This time for control of the populace (although I don't think religion should ever play a role in a country's laws). The place is a disgrace and it's leaders hypocritically take part in all the vices they have banned. Still, they have oil so us and America like to cosy up to them.

Is that particularly important to you?

They won't. In many cases these guys are prepared to die, seeing a bunch of coppers is just more to take with you. Besides which, I'm not sure I want to live on a country with police very visibly everywhere. Police state starts to come to mind.

Guess it's time for Rotheram to go on an epic "Fight for the pride of the shirt if nothing else" run for a couple of games then.

Here's an interesting angle... Washington Post As a bonus it whips up his followers.

Too nice? Some Women really are glutton for punishment. Your wife's friend is a slag RV. The too nice bloke dodged a bullet there.

There doesn't seem to be a single view for those people, does there? I mean some are very much, "I think this is a terrible move, but my constituents voted for it, so I will go with their will" others are more like "I think this is a terrible move, but my prospects in the party will be ruined if I do what I think is actually right and vote against, so I'll vote for" others are more like "I think this is a terrible move, but my prospects for holding this seat will be ruined if I do what I think is actually right and vote against, so I'll vote for" others are more like "I think this is a terrible move, but though my constituents against it, the country overall was for, so I'll vote for A50" I think that having implied that they would do whatever the advisory referendum result advised, that going ahead with leaving was kind of a moral duty in that regard. And that going back on that would have been bad for trust and so on, overall. I understand and accept the desire to trigger A50. Timing, no, not at all, really. Yes get on with doing what needs doing, but do it right, not do it to an arbitrary timetable for Conservative party reasons. I guess my view (which probably varies a bit) is based around utter distrust of the tories, their ability to even see what's right for the country as a whole and their competence in being able to actually meet expectations or claims. I just despair at Labour's ineptitude and inability to actually effectively oppose the Government. I think leaving the EU could be not too bad, having pros and cons. I fear that from what I'm seeing, the tories, assisted by an inept opposition, will monumentally **** it up. I fear Theresa May is basically an empty vessel, with nothing but a few lines from soulless Thatcher tribute act script to recite, a gormless ambition, and a narrow minded middle England mentality. Does that answer the question

It's unclear to me why it's acceptable that Nunes has communicated with Trump about the investigation that Nunes himself is leading!

Nah not really, I don't think anyone will be disappointed if we don't make the playoffs from this position. It's just nice to live with a bit of hope. Football without it is utterly pointless.

Mmmm, brain-massage. These scale-comparisons usually stops at VY Canis Majoris

Evertoned for Hogan to get off the mark!