h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You claimed accident or not, it didn't matter. Now you're changing your argument to say that it's not an accident. Fine, if you're claiming it's not accidental that's a different argument - and one not worth having.

To expand upon my previous post, if you had any level of honesty, you would say "technically you're right; of course there's a difference between..." (Iraq and WWII Germany/Japan; manslaughter and murder).

Instead, you merely shift the argument afield. Thank you for showing your true colors, once again.

I worried to find myself agreeing with SWL (up to a point) .

In both of the cases we're looking at it was acknowledged that people would be killed. At the end of WWII people were deliberately killed. In Iraq it was well known that many civilians would die, but it went ahead anyway.

But to your average Iraqi people are dying. I think now people are beginning to associate Western-style government with lawlessness and death.

To the dead, there's no difference and the tactics used bear a striking similarity, causing unnecessary death and suffering. It sounds like you've swallowed the tripe about surgical strikes, precision bombing et al. Beyond a few barracks, there were no targets of military value in Baghdad. So why bomb it again and again, night after night? "Shock & Awe"???

Why don't you stick to computer games Arnie?

You like to make assumptions SWL, and you know what that does. Don't put words in my mouth. Where have I said I beleive in the efficiency of surgical strikes? All I'm saying is that when you said WWII Germany and Japan were the same as Iraq, you were dead *wrong*. It's an injustice to equate the 2.

Hasn't McKay gone quiet?

No SoRB - I have a thing called a life - when you get one you'll see why a disagreement on a website isn't worth logging on to pursue.

And with regard to your bet - I did say when he left - not when he said he'd leave - which was about 14 months ago - are you sure it won't reach 6% by then ?

Your touching story about queuing in casualty would be matched in my local hospital - mainly because it takes about 2 hours to get in, thanks to the single road into the place. The hospital would build a new road, but the first thing the chief executive does each week is write out a cheque for £1M to pay the interest on the loans used to build the hospital.

Of course you could go by bus - which will be driven by a Pole in all probability - do you know the population has gone up by 4% over the last 10 years ?

I was skipping over the gross cockup made by the Major government - like the current government it was tired and talentless - all the strong men had been ditched, forced out, or died. Like Mo Mowlan, and Robin Cooke, leaving non-entities like Blunket, Clarke, Blears and Beckett to sit bewildered in positions far beyond their talents. Had TB retained the people of integrity rather than the spin merchants maybe he could have achieved something.

Regarding education - I have 2 children of primary age and I'm a governor of a secondary school. One of my daughters is engaged to a primary school teacher, and another is 2 years into her degree in primary education - whereas you ?

McKay:

"And with regard to your bet - I did say when he left - not when he said he'd leave - which was about 14 months ago - are you sure it won't reach 6% by then ?"

Yes. Is the bet still on? You say it will be higher than 6.25% on the day Blair leaves. I say it will be lower than 6%. Let's see, shall we?

"Of course you could go by bus - which will be driven by a Pole in all probability - do you know the population has gone up by 4% over the last 10 years ?"

I'm not sure what to make of that information. The working age population of the country has gone up? Good. More taxpayers. There's a Pole driving your bus? Fair enough. What is the problem you have with that, exactly? Is it good old fashioned Tory racism, non-political xenophobia, or what is it?

"I was skipping over the gross cockup made by the Major government - like the current government it was tired and talentless - all the strong men had been ditched, forced out, or died."

This is an excuse?

"Had TB retained the people of integrity rather than the spin merchants maybe he could have achieved something."

The disingenuous and incorrect implication is that he achieved nothing. Not even the Tory party leadership believes that - witness their embrace of the city academy programme and the dumping of grammar schools. You're to the right of the Tories, McKay - have you considered joining the BNP?

"Regarding education - I have 2 children of primary age and I'm a governor of a secondary school. One of my daughters is engaged to a primary school teacher, and another is 2 years into her degree in primary education - whereas you ?"

Not sure of the relevance of this, but my partner is a high school science teacher with two children of primary age. Baffled why that matters in any way or what you think your list of attributes qualifies you for.

SoRB

You asked me when I was last in a primary school, "But have you BEEN in a primary school recently? Classrooms look like something off the Enterprise (and I mean the Enterprise-D, specifically - Kirk would be jealous! )"
presumably because in your little world its needful to have to justify every opinion - I was answering your question.

Judging by your posting history SoRB, I'd say the BNP was more your party than mine.

Sorry - I know some people have run away crying when a racist label has been thrown into the conversation, but it won't wash with me.

the way you both go on at each other
you both should still be in primary.

care