Walsingham

It's merely a smokescreen to distract from the fundamental lack of leadership shown in any of the systems employed in NO. BBC reporters were appalled at how everyone seemed to be terrified of exceeding their federal/state/military/civilian authorities and avoiding doing simple things like using their assets on jobs right in front of them. We saw precisely the same type of bullpoop here in the UK over the Foot and Mouth affair. But we have cracked heads and should be pretty well set up for any similar events. We have done exercises with joint service HQs, joint field exercises between all types of emergency services, the police, fire, and military. People know what has to be done. In fact we're taking things even further off the back of that and trying to improve regular interservice military cooperation. It's what you boys should be doing, and instead you are allowing the various bureaucracy branches to play empire-building games. This is not some conspiracy, nor is everything fine. What is needed is a lot of nitty-gritty overhaul from comms to culture.

You know... 'heavy artillery'? Sheesh. Don't watch many old war movies, do ya?

Terrorism is a fighting strategy, like cavalry charges, or human wave assaults. It has certain requirements on the user, and imposes certain difficulties on the defender. As Fishboot very astutely observed the requirements go down, and the implications go up as society becomes more sophisticated and enters higher energy states as a system. This is because terrorism is quite simply about causing destruction and mayhem until Society cries 'uncle', or breaks down entirely permitting revolutionary justice, commissars, holy community militias and so on to have fun. Thus we are witnessing the rise of ever more tiny groups using terrorism. Again, as Fishboot points out, this has frightening implications. Because it means that ever smaller groups of halfwits will be able to ruin our days by screwing around with our health databases, our road networks, our stock exchanges, our oil refineries, and so on. I say again that terrorism is just a strategy. Its purpose is simply to destroy and make life unpleasant for as large a group of people as possible with the minimum effort. It can be used by your strapping huddled masses yearning to kick some ass, but in an increasing number of cases it is turning up in the hands of minority extremists. People like white supremacists or Aum Shinrikyo with whom compromise is neither attractive nor possible. Your authoritarian regime would be attempting to portray some sort of huddled mass movement as one of the extremist crazy movements. Note, however, that a perfectly reasonable state would protray real extremist crazies as extremist crazies also. This is one of those reasons why politics is so much fun.

The operative 88%; Wash at 75%. Never fear. If you anks can't pull your finger out, I'm sure we Euros can bail you out. {walsh plays cunning superiority card to enrage Americans into going en masse}

Well, I actually have to backtrack a bit and admit that the US isn't a democracy in the strictest sense. It is a republic. It always has been. Hence the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic". Indeed, most 'democracies' are really republics. I will admit the US has an elite class and lobby groups with unusual access and control. But they exist with the knowledge and consent of the majority of citizens. Thus it does not mean they are undemocratic.

They are just as a democracy as the US. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tell me... have you ever left your home town? I like Iran. I even think they're going to be pretty hip in ten years time. But they ain't a democracy. Even if you believe the Bush shenanigans America still has an edge, mate.

Agreed. Streamlining is one of the great words denoting evil. Like 'futanari', and 'vegetarian'.

Good point. Geddit?

As Alan davies said: No man EVER went to his friends and said "Oh the other night I was having sex with this bird. She was so skinny I could see all her ribs. It was like banging a toolbox. I've never been so turned on!" Me, I like my women like I like my wars. In the style of the 1940s, with plenty of heavy artillery. Hubba hubba etc.

I reckon having two opposables on each hand would be good.

That movie is just plain wrong.

Couple of tricks over the years: 1) Sleep on the floor. You quickly adapt and are able to sleep, but you don't have the urge to wallow come the morning. 2) Tell yourself to wake up at a specific time and check your watch before you sleep. Some friendsand I tried this with excellent results. 3) During my university finals I paid someone to come into my room and throw water over me. Apart from the mess it was actually a pretty great way to start the day. 4) I currently have pigeons nesting outside my apartment window. This is the worst way to wake up - horrible intestinal gurgling noises. However it has taught me you CAN solve some problems by throwing money at them. Provided the problem is a pigeon, you leave the window open, and the money is two pence pieces.

two words, Schmarth: opposable thumbs.

I'm intrigued as to where you cut the 36 billion in defence spending from. EDIT: PENAL BATTALIONS! Simply turn Americas burdensome federal prison population into terrifying death troopers. Keep discipline with explosive neck collars and nagant revolvers. It's what Stalin would have done.

I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight our racist attitude towards trolls on this forum. What if a real troll were to log on, thinking "Yeah we're always painted as the bad guys in Obsidian software, but I'm sure the fans understand its only storytelling". The troll would be in tears, I tell ya.

Isn't out in the UK yet. When it is we will weigh in. Flightplan sounds super-cr*ppy, so it probably won't do so well here.

You keep George away from my goram movie. Let him churn out some more letdowns. i want Serenity! Cornsarnit.

The Falkland islanders recently requested that the British Army be allowed to put off dmeining in their area. they said that the minefields don't really bother them or endanger them (since they know to keep clear), and the demining teams are desperately needed elsewhere in the world. I think that was rather nice of them.

Atreides makes a good point. We can't just have a sudden switch. And by doing business I meant not that we'd have it all our way. Hell, we may have to 'let' them get nukes. If they want to waste their money on nukes while they need infrastructure investment, education, healthcare etc, then the people of Iran may be moved still further to press for more democratic accountability in future. There is already some internal discontent with the sabre rattlers. On the other hand, Iran may be under the impression that if they get nukes they can do what N Korea has done, and trade them in for massively profitable aid packages. A little sympathy for Iran might not go amiss either. They could be forgiven for wondering about the wider implications of Sunni on Shia violence. Their state is sandwiched between two extremely hardline Sunni countries - Saudi and Pakistan - nukes might turn out to be necessary ten years from now. Just a few thoughts.

Well, I guess a trilogy would do in a pinch.

The ultimate weapon is cinnamon flavoured industrial alcohol.

Movies are where the money really is. But I think that if the film does well Whedon would be sorely tempted to start another series; maybe pass control over to Tim or Chaz Minear. If that doesn't work I say we do unto him as the mob did unto Sinatra.

No-one's going to invade Iran. Will you calm down? There is simply no need to. The current regime are a little wibbly, but I think after they get the shouting out of their system we will be able to do business.

Damn straight, sir. All you yellow-bellied slugs better head out to a theatre and watch the movie.

Jack o'Neil was conveniently ignoring the logistic lift required to support weapons that throw solid projectiles around. I think those zats and jaffa sticks have an internal fuel source that self-recharges. No need to change clips, either. Kinetic weapons are also obliged to kick when being fired, making them require at least some strength and or training. A jaffa stick really is the proverbial idiot stick. I only know plasma reactors from WH40K. Titans and spacecraft have them for energy. They also have plasma guns, bt they are slow to charge and dangerously unstable.