I'm probably victim of Western propaganda so I'd be interested in your thoughts on the killings of Litvinenko, Nemtsov and others who seem to be in opposition to Putin. We didn't hear about similar things under Yeltsin for example. What about the huge increase in cyber atracks on high profile organisations? Also our press also implies that his supporters get good jobs, oil wealth and anyone that falls out with him wanes in their fortunes. I dislike Trump immensely and would put Putin in the same bracket but I do only know what the Western propaganda machines tell me. Gut feeling is that he's much, much worse than most leaders.
There is no smoke without fire. I do not know the exact relationship between Putin and those murders - or his relationship to cyber attacks. I would say that he has an interest in destabilizing the West, and that he has few scruples. His past tells us this - 16 years experience as a foreign intelligence officer for the KGB, with a large amount of his time spent in the former GDR. I would not trust him anywhere close to me. But that is a different thing to the supposition that Russia is preparing to invade the rest of Europe and we, therefore, need the Americans here to defend us - the supposition (from Durbar) which I initially responded to. Russia is nervous about the encroachments of Nato - and this would be true with, or without, Putin. How would England react if Scotland broke away and the latter then formed a military pact with our greatest enemy ? How did the USA react when Cuba installed Soviet missiles on their own doorstep ? We are being encouraged to believe that East European nations need Nato weapons to defend themselves against possible Russian attack - yet the existence of those weapons raises the possibility of attack. What would the situation be like if the Ukraine joined Nato ? Then the Russian ethnic population of that country would be living alongside rockets aimed at their own homeland.
South China Sea: US carrier group begins 'routine' patrols please log in to view this image Image copyrightAFP Image captionThe USS Carl Vinson is no stranger to the region US aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson has started what it calls "routine operations" in the South China Sea, with a fleet of supporting warships. The deployment comes days after China's foreign ministry warned Washington against challenging Beijing's sovereignty in the region. China claims several contested shoals, islets and reefs in the area. It has been constructing artificial islands with airstrips in the South China Sea for a number of years. please log in to view this image Image copyrightREUTERS Image captionChina has built islands on reefs and, says a think tank, is building military facilities on some Flying close to Beijing's new islands Why is the South China Sea contentious? Images 'show weapons built on islands' The aircraft carrier was last in the South China Sea two years ago, for exercises with Malaysia's navy and air force and has made 16 voyages to the region in its 35 years of US navy service. US Defence Secretary James Matthis said during a recent trip to Japan that the Trump administration saw no need for "dramatic military moves" at the stage. The statement appeared to repudiate comments on the subject from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who told senators during his confirmation hearings that China should be prevented from reaching the disputed islands. On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: "We urge the US not to take any actions that challenge China's sovereignty and security." Trump breaks ice with Chinese leader please log in to view this image
This is where I think it will kick off at some point. China is taking over areas of the SCS and P'ing off Japan/Philippines/Vietnam. Even when the Philllipines won the court case in The Hague the Chinese ignored it. Just goes to show how the "Secret peoples Army" respect international laws.
My favourites were the Bristol Beaufighter and the Junkers Ju-87; Humbrol tin of Duck Egg Blue to the first person who can tell me the nickname of the Ju-87!
I know it was called the Stuka. I had that as well as many others gathering dust on my ceiling until I got fed up with them all and either used them as target practice for my air rifle or setting on fire in the garden pretending they had been shot down.
I lived in flats and we did the same - going to a friend's on the top floor, setting them on fire and chucking them out of the window.