Andy Mcnab
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Here's guessing you'll be next then..... At least we've moved off your home turf boy, what are you moaning for, more room for petty arguments and bitching now!
>>By Bethan (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 10:04)
True colours Beth, true colours...
Start swimming in the deep and you could end up out of your depth, flippers tattered...Though I guess readit won't rise to tacky bait...
Have you ever read The Water Babies? If you have did you understand the moral of Mrs Do-as-you-would-be-done-by?
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 10:23)
Well I experienced life but does that mean I have life experience??
Not really into catwalks myself – I think any smart and creative person should make up their own mind instead of blindly follow the fashion maffia. Besides – if we were dressing like the models on catwalks we’d probably be arrested for indecent behaviour.
Anyway – sure, drugs have always been there but who recognises all these different substances as drugs these days?? If you take a pill these days you don’t know if your headache is gonna go away or it’s giving you one. So to speak. I assume drugs are not allowed but do they have to take tests? Are lockers being searched? Or did I watch too many movies...
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 10:34)
Your plot, Lynn, "aviation vapour" - how's it doing?
It seems AM/CR books - and related subjects - are less important around here than personal bent of egoitis...
Being that other boarders reckon AM will go the Iraq route, (return visit to) and bearing in mind ending in DW, wil Carrie be the lead in next book. Might as well go next book because no one seems particularly interested in LL/LD/DW chat, and the others have ben done to death here.
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 10:41)
For women (drugs) it's the difference between watching iconic legendary Marilyn Monroe lookalikes swigging booze and popping pills, to that of Super models (Nhaomi Campbell) doing a Miss Piggy and snorting coke...
On the locker check status, maybe a regular trooper will pick up and answer that one.
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 10:51)
"It seems AM/CR books - and related subjects - are less important around here than personal bent of egoitis"
I couldn't agree more... So an end to skits and silliness (see put mine first!), PTSD, being mean to newcomers (allegedly), I know him stories, he betrayed the regiment moans, veiled insults and sarcasm (obviously because people can never tell, and that leads to more petty arguments)..... I'm game if the rest are, well I'm a woman, I'm supposed to follow the herd.
Next book? Since he supposedly follows his soldiering career I guess NS will end up captured after being hired to capture saddam or scuds... Will it be cut and pasting from B20? Either that or he'll be sent in to free someone else.
>>By Bethan (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 11:06)
Plot-tour:
we didn't have Africa yet, did we??
"As President Daniel arap Moi discusses the United States-led war on terror with President George Bush in Washington, the two armies hold joint military operations at Manda Bay naval base on the Kenyan coast."
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 13:03)
Diamonds??
"On 1 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts (A/RES/55/56).
(..)
What is a conflict diamond?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council"
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 13:16)
Cap Ferrat, Lynn, in Liberation Day, the start of the book was based in North Africa...
Good scope for African theme, involve the South African security services and you get deep and dirty...Include the new black gold, and white gold, and top off with ivory gold, and you got a humdinger of political proverbial to clean up, take out, and bury...
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 13:55)
<< no one seems particularly interested in LL/LD/DW chat >>
May I suggest a different perspective? It's NOT lack of interest. It's out of courtesy and consideration. Big difference. Some here haven't read these books yet, so we refrain. And after all, one might assume AM's older books (B20, IA, and RC) available and appropriate, but the fact is some here have not read them yet either.
That said, I'm always game, Bethan... and in more ways than one! (vbw! vbg!)
So, is everyone practiced up on using MG's inventive "spoiler" techniques? :o)
>>By am-i-binned (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 14:29)
Does courtesy and consideration stretch to that of the authors? It did, at one time - nothing but admiration or else (attitude), and one hint of word against AM and by god all hell was let loose from the musketeers: remember?
Oh spare the ritual bowing to guff, I haven't read the AM forerunners to Crisis Four, and from what I consummed (collated) in a literary sense of boarders knowledge I didn't need to, because the unspoken (the taboo pre-spoiler stuff) came via Yahoo mail box gratis the VBW VBG "trust me" - who incidentally despised anyone who voiced anything McNab in the form of that stuff (if heaped high enough) makes Texan grass grow in the desert.
Never thought we'd see such a massive switch to guffaw, McNab laughing up his sleeve at 149 pages pushing 50 and surviving the rigours of F-Troop leadership going over to the enemy forces intent on ridiculing the man...
"Spoiler techniques?"...Does sound rather good, but is it so difficult to talk books and "refrain" from spoiling the plot? I guess not, if you're gifted in the art of conveying to those in the know a sense of understanding of covert prose, yet at the same creating a sense of want to know and inevitable purchase of book.
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 17:23)
What happens when we get to page 150 - is there some kind of celebration? Seems like a celebratary kind of number?
>>By Nomad (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 18:13)
Ford Motor company
Nickname for male cat
Mountain grazer
Tabloid Press
Following these clues I get
General Tom Goat-Gutter?
Sounds like a SF rupert to me?!
>>By Nomad (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 18:16)
Readit - surely you mean Milk Tray in stead of Dairy Box whoosh?
Dairy box was the floral dressed lady flouncing through the wild flower meadow - unless of course there's something you aren't telling us? You're a big Laura Ashley fan? I knew it!
What is a zapata mousetache stevemitch - where does this name originate from?
Whay shouldn't the SF men not move with the times and the current fashions - doesn't mean they don't stick the the same old fashioned SOP's that have always applied and worked even if the packaging is all shiny and knew?
The thing that makes me smile is seeing the discordance of the fashion in operational shots of SF guys in civvies - they just look like BHS models or Men at Burton - sort of Val doonican like to my eye?
Does this make any sense to anyone?
>>By Nomad (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 18:25)
With the collapse of the GCHQ whistle-blower trial and today's allegations from Clare Short about SIS bugging Kofi Annan, it got me wondering whether British SF guys have to sign the Official Secrets Act.
Anyone know the answer?
>>By bladwags (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 20:24)
Blad, yes they certainly do, they have levels of security they have to be vetted for. I know for my husband he had to have his wife and family background checked too. This caused him a little nervousness, but that is another story!
>>By a rose by any other (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 20:48)
And once having signed the OSA, you've signed for life, right? Although I guess if you're smart about it and with a clever bit of manipulation you can probably incorporate a fair amount of life experience into a work of fiction.
>>By bladwags (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 20:56)
Nomad -
Val Doonican, eh? Long time since I heard his name. Is he still alive? Do you think he still wears those lovely sweaters LOL?
>>By bladwags (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 20:58)
I am presuming he hasn't expired as he is at the Cliff Pavillion in Southend, he is performing there tonight so for 13.50 you can see for yourself if his tasty in wooly pullys has improved.
>>By a rose by any other (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 22:00)
Val Doonican? Much prefer an audience with David Shaylor - in town next week...Should make for interesting time...I've read quite a bit his work, but off-the-record chat (though guess bugs will be in situe) is often much much more revealing....
Thing about GCHQ, the American's might have asked permission for taps/bugs on foreign diplomats et al, and while awaiting reply would already be listening in, but does anyone seriously believe they wouldn't be? After all, the new Cold War (secret Cold War) is between Europe and the USA...Everyone is tapping everyone else - crossed wires - hence Intelligence looking up its own arse both sides of the pond!
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 22:12)
Tom Ford a handsome Texan and ex model/actor went to Gucci as advisor/director and turned it head-over-heels and plunged it into the Hollywood pool, which put Italian fashion top of the league, hence Versace (gay icon) and Armani couldn't put a foot wrong with the Hollywood set. Italian fashion had stepped from the dark and ousted Parisian Couture out of the dazzling lights of the USA, and that Hollywood mass appeal ousted Woolworth socks, M & S underpants, and Debenham suits ouut of the SAS trooper's mindset, and this Italian success almost ousted Saville Row (custom tailored) suit from the mindset of Ruperts.
The joke being, the suits from the Italian fashion houses are the same (quality cloth) as suits in the high street chainstores, made by the same factories in the Far East (mostly) = the difference being the linings, the labels, and the price tags, and the idjits who pay the highest price...
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 22:32)
The above totally off bloody topic - pass the bottle over, I need a drink...But hey, who knows push for page 150 and maybe someone will book a good hotel suite for a great party....Get out your wallet AM, your shout!!
>>By devonwren (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 22:34)
Funny thing about whistle-blowers is that it's so difficult to assess whether claims are valid (in legal sense, not the claim itself) when it concerns aspects of the SIS, Security Service or indeed GCHQ. All staff are guided by the OSA and to contravene such an Act in anyway is of unprofessional character and worthy of prosecution - usually (it's what it's there for in the first place). Within any of these Services, the majority of staff, though privy to sensitive and classified issues, do not have clarity or opportunity of being privy to all intelligence. Myself, years have taught me the misguided and non-reality ways of conspiracy theorists and I openly shun those people (politely of course). My employment dictates that I must only work with scientific facts - not opinions. So called whistle-blowers, or the media, never make the points clear that they are not privy to all intelligence. If GCHQ or the SIS decide to implement electronic surveillance on a particular individual or group (whether suspected terrorist or UN representative) then they will factually have a bloody good reason for doing so. They don't do these things for a laugh. Difficulty lies in the fact that senior staff from these Services cannot divulge sensitive information as to the reasons why such monitoring has been instructed. Some people see a small part of the picture (names, dates, operations etc) and then proceed to leap before they look. Though often with good intent, by this time the media has got it's hands on it and millions are reading about it, in disgust - little realising that they haven't a clue about the real reasons why.
Such things have happened throughout history and in particular the current Gulf crisis. It's good for people to remember that when a certain incident occurs - if we stick to the Iraq conflict as an example - almost every bit of knowledge or view that the majority of the British public (non-service) has on the situation has been gleaned from the media in some way. If the media do not report the full picture - which is so typical of them - then the public also do not see it. Concerning the young lady of GCHQ, I personally feel that she did not know the full intelligence - she would not be privy to it - but thought she did, adding one and one but making three.
All military personnel with access to sensitive information are overseen by the OSA. However, varying degrees of security vetting for relevant clearances dictates the individual and their work. Many SF personnel are guided by the OSA but not all have the same clearances. Some counter-terrorist or intelligence theatre work may require a higher level of security vetting for the relevant clearances. Indeed myself, though not from the Hereford Herberts, have been issued with DV clearance for my role in CT duties in the past, including NI and elsewhere. Such an issue still holds, even though such CT roles have lessened dramatically compared to the past. As you are aware, it's not just about the things you know today, but also about the things you knew yesterday.
Apologies for any rambling. I just thought I'd share some past experiences out of interest.
A bit of light refreshment :
Some humerous and educating military phrases for you all out there. They are all genuine, though some may be military interpretations of the original phrase in itself. By no means do they represent my own thought - heaven forbid !
"The beatings will continue until morale improves."
"Do the business of the day - on the day."
"The amount of medals on an officer's chest denotes the mileage away from combat that they were."
"Nothing is so good for the morale of the troops as to occasionally see a dead officer." - The Parachute Regiment
"Everyone wants peace, and they will fight the bloodiest war to get it."
"The military value of a soldier's work is not measured by the amount of enemy property destroyed, or the number of men killed or captured, but the number he keeps watching."
"Iraqi Republican Guard soldier thought it wrong to fight. But roaring Para who killed him first thought it right."
"The purpose of war is not to die for your country. The purpose of war is to ensure that your enemy dies for his."
"He knows nothing and thinks that he knows everything. That points to a political career."
"The best sound is always the sound of your officer falling off a 40-storey building." The Parachute Regiment
>>By Reginald (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 22:57)
LOL Reg !!! Could do with a laugh ! :o))
Cheers DW, but at the moment I would not go where AM invites us - he'll probably be armed and dangerous. Whether in Armani or not.
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 23:36)
he doesnt do that kind of thing now, he prefers to spend his time at radio and TV stations or on film sets, being pampered by airheads. Anywhere he gets his ego massaged, something that wouldn't happen if he was back with the blokes on a "real" job.
>>By a rose by any other (Friday, 27 Feb 2004 01:57)
well in that case.. if he wants to spend his time with airheads - we've got some around lately
>>By Lynn (Friday, 27 Feb 2004 09:59)
Thanks for asking your OSA question, Bladwags! :o) cuz now I can say --
Thanks for sharing and answering so much of Bladwag's OSA question, Reginald! And thanks for the good grins, too -- very much enjoyed and appreciated! Well, maybe not so much by Para Reg officers... hahaha! :oD
It's not the "armed and dangerous" part, Lynn. It's "eyes on target" and "in line of sight" that you have to worry about... ;o)
Oooops! Careful there, Rose, your speculation is showing! Hahaha! :o)
>>By am-i-binned (Friday, 27 Feb 2004 10:08)
he doesnt do that kind of thing now, he prefers to spend his time at radio and TV stations or on film sets, being pampered by airheads. Anywhere he gets his ego massaged, something that wouldn't happen if he was back with the blokes on a "real" job.
What Val Doonican?! The man doesn't have an ego!
>>By Nomad (Friday, 27 Feb 2004 11:25)
LOL!!! Good one, Nomad! Hahaha!!! :oD
>>By am-i-binned (Friday, 27 Feb 2004 11:30)
Nomad, are you kidding a male model for Women's Realm knitting patterns and singing love songs to Paddy McGinty's goat, the man must have a huge ego.
AIB, Val is an Irish singer born in the 1920s, not sure why an American would have found that so funny, please enlighten me
>>By a rose by any other (Friday, 27 Feb 2004 12:16)
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