Blair Force One

[beefhole]

You know during the whole of the second world war Winston Churchill had just one body guard.

Methinks times have changed a bit.

In total agreement Doug.  I have to keep hoping that, at one point or another, we'll eventually have a politician in a place of power that we actually LIKE. *sigh* I know, I'm a dreamer

[Woodlouse2002]

Methinks times have changed a bit.

Yes indeed. There is no longer a World War and powerful nations no longer invade their neighbours with little or no warning. It's much safer nowadays thats for sure.

In total agreement Doug.  I have to keep hoping that, at one point or another, we'll eventually have a politician in a place of power that we actually LIKE. *sigh* I know, I'm a dreamer

He was called JFK.

[beefhole]

Yes indeed. There is no longer a World War and powerful nations no longer invade their neighbours with little or no warning. It's much safer nowadays thats for sure.

Nations are safer.  Their leaders are not.

He was called JFK.

I meant for the FUTURE woody

[Hagar]

[quote]
Nations are safer.

[beaky]

Not sure I feel safer & I was born during WWII.

Same here, and I grew up during the 60s, which had its risks in the USA.

Politicians are better-protected now, but the average schmo is not, and there are more threats than in my day or even Hagar and others who lived through a world war. Random whackos, more resistant strains of diseases, terrorism, etc... and as far as convential warfare goes, there seems to be enough of that going on in the world for many civilians to still be in danger.

[beefhole]

Not sure I feel safer & I was born during WWII.

I know exactly what you mean (there's a reason I don't watch the news, it's apocalypse every time I turn it on ), but I was refering directly to Woody's comment.  For example, there is little chance of Germany launching a surprise invasion on Poland right now.  Or maybe there is a good chance, who knows, like I said I try not to watch the news

[expat]

I know exactly what you mean (there's a reason I don't watch the news, it's apocalypse every time I turn it on ), but I was refering directly to Woody's comment.  For example, there is little chance of Germany launching a surprise invasion on Poland right now.  Or maybe there is a good chance, who knows, like I said I try not to watch the news

It's OK, Germany can't afford to invade anyone right now  ;D

Matt

[Woodlouse2002]

It's a shame that everyone is so afraid of the war on terror. But in reality the world really has never been safer. I mean, name another period in the last 1000 years when you could live long, comfortable lives without another country somewhere in the world turning up to shoot you, steal your food etc?

[Hagar]

I mean, name another period in the last 1000 years when you could live long, comfortable lives without another country somewhere in the world turning up to shoot you, steal your food etc?

I think that depends on which country you happen to live in. If I said what I would like to say I would probably be banned for life.

[Woodlouse2002]

I think that depends on which country you happen to live in. If I said what I would like to say I would probably be banned for life.

I'm talking about the west here. No matter what you think we do not live in dangerous times.

[expat]

I'm talking about the west here. No matter what you think we do not live in dangerous times.

That would depend greatly on your definition of dangerous times.
Don't misunderstand me, but in deepest Cornwall the most dangerous thing you are going to see is a pissed up farmer weaving home in his tractor.
When bombs are going off in your capital city, I think that comes under dangerous times. When terrorists are still trying to plan attacks with aircraft, that is dangerous times. When a certain element wants to kill you because of something your government has done, that is dangerous times. However I am probably the wrong person to comment having lived a portion of my life never getting in a car without looking under it. When the IRA was randomly killing British service men in Northern Germany, that was dangerous times, but part of the job I signed up to. When Islamic terrorists want try to kill civilians, women and children in the name of religion, that is a different matter and that is dangerous times.
However, this is getting away from "Real Aviation" some what.

Matt

[beefhole]

That would depend greatly on your definition of dangerous times.
Don't misunderstand me, but in deepest Cornwall the most dangerous thing you are going to see is a pissed up farmer weaving home in his tractor.
When bombs are going off in your capital city, I think that comes under dangerous times. When terrorists are still trying to plan attacks with aircraft, that is dangerous times. When a certain element wants to kill you because of something your government has done, that is dangerous times. However I am probably the wrong person to comment having lived a portion of my life never getting in a car without looking under it. When the IRA was randomly killing British service men in Northern Germany, that was dangerous times, but part of the job I signed up to. When Islamic terrorists want try to kill civilians, women and children in the name of religion, that is a different matter and that is dangerous times.
However, this is getting away from "Real Aviation" some what.

Matt

Of COURSE that's all dangerous.  But we're talking stone called statistics here.

What are the chances of the crazy farmer killing YOU?

What are the chances of those bombs killing YOU, and how often do they come?

What are the chances of the terrorists killing YOU with their airplanes?

What are the chances of YOU dying because of terrorist bigotry?

Dangerous things still exist.  Just to a far lesser extent and, I would say, (although it is debatable) on a smaller scale.  Entire societies used to be conquered, massacred or enslaved not too long ago.  It's all about chances, and the chances of being hurt or killed by one of today's dangers are far less than those of yore.

[Woodlouse2002]

That would depend greatly on your definition of dangerous times.
Don't misunderstand me, but in deepest Cornwall the most dangerous thing you are going to see is a pissed up farmer weaving home in his tractor.
When bombs are going off in your capital city, I think that comes under dangerous times. When terrorists are still trying to plan attacks with aircraft, that is dangerous times. When a certain element wants to kill you because of something your government has done, that is dangerous times. However I am probably the wrong person to comment having lived a portion of my life never getting in a car without looking under it. When the IRA was randomly killing British service men in Northern Germany, that was dangerous times, but part of the job I signed up to. When Islamic terrorists want try to kill civilians, women and children in the name of religion, that is a different matter and that is dangerous times.
However, this is getting away from "Real Aviation" some what.

Matt

These Islamic terrorists have a little way to go before their campaign matches that of the IRA. When bombs are regularly going off in all our major cities, then I shall conceid that times are dangerous.


Edit: Also as regards our leaders safety, I'm yet to see an attempt on any western leaders life by the islamic fundamentalists. The Brighton bomb was more than enough to show the IRA was capable of such a thing.

[Hagar]

[quote]Dangerous things still exist.

[Woodlouse2002]

As I said previously, it depends on where you live. In some parts of the world these things are an everyday occurrence without much any hope of improvement in the foreseeable future.

But when has that not been the case?