Mandy Lifeboats

I am not arguing with myself. My standpoint is perfectly consistent. USA have committed atrocities in the past. Russia is committing them today. A ceasefire is perfectly acceptable. Russia should start one immediately whilst they get out of Ukraine. A ceasefire NOW would cause more deaths. It would allow Russia to regroup, rearm and recommence their attack at a later date. Let's not forget Russia gave constant assurances that they were not going to attack Ukraine. Why should Ukraine believe anything they say now?

There are kids that haven't even been born yet that will die before me. Growing old is a privilege that many don't have.

Very well put @Anthony USA attacked the Serbian power grid and caused suffering for innocent civilians. This was wrong. Russia attacked the Ukrainian power grid and caused suffering for innocent civilians. This is wrong. USA invaded Iraq based upon fictitious WMD in Iraq being a threat to the USA. This was wrong. Russia invaded Ukraine based upon fictitious Nazis in Ukraine being a threat to Russia. This was wrong.

Ah ...... I see. Its clear now. What Russia is doing is acceptable because what the USA is doing is wrong. I use the same "logic". What the USA are doing today is perfectly acceptable because of what Russia did in Crimea in 1853.

Russia is right today because the USA did things wrong in the past. Russia have never done anything wrong. But if they did, the USA has done much worse.

This is the strangest one. The still looks like a mask. The video shows an odd movement at the very end. The walk looks wrong.

I have seen the pictures and the video. That doesn't look like Putin. The movement is all wrong.

You are a little too early @Chindie. Easter is not for a few weeks.

Good Sir, thank you for your advice. You can be assured that I am treating your advice with the appropriate level of respect.

A question for the aviation experts....... I have been watching the US Global Hawks since the start of the war. They fly a very predictable flightpath over the Black Sea. East to West. Turn. West to East. Turn. 1. Are they able to fly a more erratic/unpredictable course and still obtain the data they need? 2. Can it be moved in real time in response to a threat? Or is there a significant delay between the pilot giving the command and the drone executing the command?

You have just repeated the exact thing you claim you didn't say!!!!!!! Diego Garcia was not "found" by the UK. It was found by a Portugese captain working for Spain. The island was settled by the French.

That's the one. The UK behaved appalling. But @villakramseems to think it was an island discovered by the Royal Navy (It wasn't) and conquered by the Royal Navy (it wasn't). There are enough instances of the UK acting badly throughout history. There is no need to make up history.

It was leased in 1966. But it wasn't the Royal Navy it was the British Government.

Tune in next week to see Dick Dastardly attempt to stop the drone using a demolition ball hung from a Sopwith Camel.

Discovered uninhabited by a Portuguese Captain in the employment of Spain. First settled by the French. Handed to the UK partially by treaty and partially by purchase. Not sure of the Royal Navy’s role in this one.

Having Charles as head of state does not make you part of the British Empire. I love your idea that Argentina should own the Falklands because it’s closest. When will the US be giving Alaska to Canada? They are much closer. There are hundreds of examples like that. Just from memory - UK, Spain, Denmark, Russia, Portugal, Turkey and France all own land that’s closer to another country.

Would you risk that?

I think you have answered your own question. Turkey controls the Black Sea. They have prevented any new warships entering the Black Sea. This sends a clear message to Russia that escalation will not be ignored.

Interesting news coming out of Turkey. The Turkish Defense Minister is stating that they will allow USA ships into the Black Sea in order to protect NATO surveillance drones from attack. That's a massive headache for Russia.

99.9% of the land acquired for the British Empire was acquired by means that were completely indefensible. My main point is simply that the Falklands and Gibraltar are the exception. We do have very legitimate claims to both. These weren't like Australia where we "found" the land, deemed the inhabitants to be sub-human and ethnically cleansed it. My secondary point is that even if Gibraltar and Falklands aren't British, the countries claiming ownership have very flawed claims. But compare that position to somewhere like Palestine. Why the hell were we there and look at the horrendous position we left it in. But even if we hadn't been involved there's thousands of years of actual history plus thousands of years of religious beliefs to unravel.

Mystic Mooney predicts........

Absolutely first class.

Oh.......I see now........ That's a very clear answer to: - Why do you think Canada/ Australia isn't independent from the UK? - Why do you think that Argentina are the rightful owners of the Falklands.

Yes and no. You hold your views and you express them. That’s great. This is a football forum and the debate on football matters can get very emotive. But off topic is full of people with differing views putting them forward in an informative and often humorous way. What does frustrate me is that you make statements and then fail to follow up polite requests to explain and expand upon your viewpoint. I’d still love to hear your answers to the questions I asked you at the very start of this thread.

to everyone who has contributed to this thread. Intelligent conversation and conversation without bitterness or abuse. It's just a shame that @villakram hasn't contributed his viewpoint.