News that British troops are leaving Sangin has been met with dismay by Afghan village elders who have called on military commanders to reverse the decision.

An Army spokesman confirmed that the leaders had turned up at a forward operating base and called for an impromptu shura – or meeting – to take place. The 14-strong group had then pleaded with commanders to have the decision for troops to be withdrawn and redeployed into central Helmand re-thought. Another delegation of up to 50 people put the same request to the district governor.

As reported on MoDOracle.com, British troops – led by 40 Commando Royal Marines – are leaving Sangin in the coming months to make way for the US Marines. In announcing the changes to Parliament, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the move would better reflect the circumstances on the ground following the division of Regional Command (South) into two separate areas.

Plans to withdraw from Sangin have also caused controversy on British soil as the notorious area of southern Afghanistan has claimed a number of soldiers’ lives.

Part of the argument raised by Afghan village elders was that they had remained loyal to NATO’s International Security Assistance by rebuffing Taliban demands. They pointed out that people in their areas had planted water melons and peas and not corn, which would have given insurgents cover to conduct ambushes. British commanders said they understood how brave the civilians had been.

Maj Mark Totten (RM) added: “I recognise the courage of the people and it is appreciated – co-operation such as this is the way to defeat insurgents.”

************************

So, according to certain pacifist, left wing, anti war, pinko sources, we are not wanted in Afghanistan? British Forces are helping to keep these good people safe and they appreciate it.

Under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, officers can stop and search anyone in a designated area without having to show reasonable suspicion. Interim operational guidelines to be issued to the police say that in future section 44 powers will be used only to search vehicles, and officers will have to have grounds for suspecting they are being used in connection with terrorism.

Section 44 stop and search powers were used on more than 148,798 occasions last year and have been a key element in the campaign against terrorism.

The home secretary’s decision to scrap their use against individuals follows a ruling by the European court of human rights in January that the powers were unlawful because they were too broadly drawn and lacked sufficient safeguards to protect civil liberties.

The Strasbourg case was brought by peace protester Kevin Gillan and a journalist, Pennie Quinton, who were unlawfully abused when police stopped and searched them on their way to a demonstration outside the annual Excel centre arms fair in east London in 2003.

In an unexpected statement to the Commons today, May said she had taken urgent legal advice and consulted the police since the Strasbourg ruling was confirmed as final last Wednesday. “In order to comply with the judgment, but avoid pre-empting the review of counter-terrorism legislation, I have decided to introduce interim guidelines for the police,” the home secretary told the Commons.

“I am therefore changing the test for authorisation for the use of section 44 powers from requiring a search to be ‘expedient’ for the prevention of terrorism, to the stricter test of it being ‘necessary’ for that purpose. And, most importantly, I am introducing a new suspicion threshold.”

She added: “Officers will no longer be able to search individuals using section 44 powers. Instead they will have to rely on section 43 powers, which require officers to reasonably suspect the person to be a terrorist. And officers will only be able to use section 44 in relation to the searches of vehicles. I will only confirm these authorisations where they are considered to be necessary, and officers will only be able to use them when they have ‘reasonable suspicion’.”

The changes are designed to comply with the Strasbourg ruling and provide clarity for the police before a review of all counterterrorism legislation this summer. The terms of reference for the review are expected to be announced next week.

May’s announcement was attacked by Alan Johnson, the former Labour home secretary, who said he was amazed she had not tried to appeal against the ruling. He warned the reforms would restrict the powers of the police.

May said concerns about the use of section 44 powers meant she would not have appealed against the judgment, even if it had been possible to do so. “We have always been clear in our concerns about these powers,” she said.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of the human rights group Liberty, said: “Liberty welcomes the end of the infamous section 44 stop and search power that criminalised and alienated more people than it ever protected. We have argued against it for 10 years and spent the last seven years challenging it in courts all the way to the court of human rights.

“It is a blanket and secretive power that has been used against school kids, journalists, peace protesters and a disproportionate number of young black men. To our knowledge, it has never helped catch a single terrorist. This is a very important day for personal privacy, rights to protest and race equality in Britain.”

The home secretary also confirmed she had consulted the Northern Ireland secretary about the changes in the use of the powers in advance of the traditional marching season.

******************************************************

This bloody sucks. We are a haven for every scumbag on the planet and we do NOTHING! Well, we do actually, we feed and cloth them, give them homes and pay them to live here. SHOVE IT GB!!

Number of Victims: 10 dead; 1 injured.

Murderers: \’South Armagh Republican Action Force\’ (PIRA)

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0.

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Date: 21.07.72 (Bloody Friday).

Number of Victims: 9 dead; 130 injured.

Murderers: Provisional IRA instructed by Adams.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Event: Darkley Massacre.

Date: 20.11.83 (Bloody Sunday).

Number of Victims: 3 dead; 7 injured.

Murderers: \’Catholic Reaction Force\’ (INLA)

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0.

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Date: 17.01.92 (Bloody Friday).

Number of Victims: 9 dead; 37 injured.

Murderers: Provisional IRA.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0.

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Event: Newry Mortar Killing.

Date: 28.02.85 (Bloody Thursday).

Number of Victims: 9 dead; 37 injured.

Murderers: Provisional IRA.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0 (though more than a dozen arrests of IRA terrorists followed).

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Date: 06.12.82 (Bloody Monday).

Number of Victims: 17 dead; 30 injured.

Murderers: INLA.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 5 (none of whom are still in prison).

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Date: 31.07.72 (Bloody Monday).

Number of Victims: 9 dead; 30 injured.

Murderers: Provisional IRA.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0 (four arrests made in 2005; no convictions).

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Event: Tullyvallen Massacre

Date: 01.09.75 (Bloody Monday)

Number of Victims: 5 dead; 7 injured.

Murderers: \’South Armagh Republican Action Force\’ (PIRA).

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0.

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Event: Enniskillen Rememberance Day Bomb

Date: 8th November 1987

Number of victims:12 dead ; 63 injured

Murderers:A collective of three PIRA units

Number of convictions/Serving time 0

Cost of Official Enquiry: 0

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Date: 23.10.93 (Bloody Saturday).

Number of Victims: 9 dead excluding the bomber whom I do NOT count as a \’victim\’; 57 injured.

Murderers: Provisional IRA.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 1 (served 7 years and then was reincarcerated by the then NI Secretary for involvement in rioting. Served 40 days the second time around).

Cost of Official Enquiry: £0.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 0.

Date: 30.01.72.

Number of Victims: 14 dead; 29 injured.

Combatant: HM Armed Forces – Parachute Regiment.

Number of people convicted/serving time for the offence: 0 (to-date).

Cost of Official Enquiry: £191 million.

Time Spent on Official Enquiry: 03.04.98 – 15.06.10 (4,456 days or 638 weeks and 4 days).

2140 MURDERERS LATER AND STILL NO ENQUIRIES INTO THE IRA AND ITS LEADERS……….WHY?

Get a life Obama, and stop trying to woo southern votes!!! Accidents happen for heavens sake!

The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on March 24, 1989, when the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, hit Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef and spilled an estimated minimum 10.8 million US gallons (40.9 million liters, or 250,000 barrels) of crude oil. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur in history. Was the Exon cutting corners to make the trip shorter?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill AND – dont forget Union Carbide!!

http://www.modoracle.com/news/PM-Apologises-For-Bloody-Sunday_20725.html?category=all

So, these were supposedly ‘unlawful’ killings and now the floodgates will be open to make several families in Northern Ireland multi millionaires? And the PIRA did not fire? Crap!! There was the distinctive use of Thompson machine guns heard in the vicinity of Roseville flats, an IRA stronghold. The Army does not use Thompsons, so who did? PIRA of course.

I do not dispute that innocent people were possibly killed in the confusion and melee but the blame has to fall squarely on the PIRA for initiating the conflict. The results of this 12 year, £191 million waste of time was never going to be in doubt, in todays political and social climate the Army were never going to be found innocent, thats politically incorrect and B Liar, PM at the time, only ordered the inquiry to appease irish republicans and kiss their arses.

I was in Northern Ireland at the time but not in Londonderry. I was stationed at the Maze Internment Camp but I worked in the Intelligence Cell and saw signals and such on this incident and all related quite clearly to the FACT that British soldiers were being fired upon. As the Tompson has a maximum limited range before losing effectiveness, it was only to stir the troops into action as it could hardly have killed troops at that distance, in that respect, the PIRA tactic worked.

Lets not forget that stupid ideas like decency and Geneva conventions do not exist in the world of hate and terror. And the use of civilians is an added factor, to hide behind.

Should the troops have been there, no, they should have left the march to fizzle out in disinterest and lack of media response but the terrorist had other ideas, lets use it to ferment a conflict!!

Now that the soldiers have been found ‘guilty’ of unlawful killings can we expect another tribunal to find that all the soldiers that have been killed in Northern Ireland were the victims of UNLAWFUL killings and that all their respective families have due claims against Dublin for their loss?

Fair enough, good report. Then, over the following weekend the weather was particularly hot, 30 degrees C at one stage. I called into my son’s to collect my two grand children and, put the keys on the drivers seat whilst I strapped them both in. I closed the door and the locks engaged totally. Nothing would open. The keys were on the inside!! Luckily, I had just opened the drivers window a bit to ensure no build up of heat whilst I was in the house. We found a piece of wood and managed to open the interior door catch, otherwise it would have been 999 for the fire Brigade.

I went back to Citroen on the 27th to have a part fitted and told the girl in Service that “this is a matter of life or death to have this wiring fault fixed as (and I told her the above tale). I need it fixing now. OK she said, leave the car with us it will be about an hour and a half. Thank you I said and left. I also had ordered 2 new front mud flaps and three times they ordered the wrong ones!! Can you believe their parts dept, in CITROEN (note) – this car is not on the computer!!

Later when I returned the bill was £55 for a couple of things and “confirmed door locks activating found earth wire on DRIVERS door connecting to body of vehicle split, recommend reapir and retest”. Hang on, thats what they said on the 19th, I came in to have it FIXED!!! Note also a different door too! An electrican checked the drivers door and found nothing wrong. In fact he said the wiring was in surprisingly good nick considering the use the door takes.

Oh, sorry we did not have time and the job was not booked in but added to the job sheet! What the hell does that mean?

And there is more! I bought 4 bulbs from Halfords, two to replace the faded orange indicator bulbs and two to replace the ‘yellowed’ built in fog lights, but I bought laser blue for clarity. According to the Car Manual they are H3 55w and bought them accordingly. Then, when I went to pick that car up on the 27th, they had replaced the indicator bulbs but said that the DIP bulbs as supplied were incorrect!!! What DIP bulbs? I told them to replace the FOG bulbs!!

Needless to say I told them what to do with their spare parts and am taking it to an Independent Garage that I have used happily in the past and he told me “it was a simple thing to fix, here is the number for our auto Electrician, he will come to the house and fix it.”

Lesson: If you’re car is out of warranty DO NOT use a main stream dealer – they are useless. Especially this one. Needless to say, they will not be doing my car again. I sent in a complaint, unanswered but auto replied.

Footnote: On June 3rd I arranged for an auto electrician to visit my home and fix the car. He told me (and showed me) the botched job that had been done on the wiring when checking, making the problem worse. He fixed the locking problem in about an hour, including all checks, and charged me £30! And he also replaced my fog lights free of charge! They also tried to make me change several other bulbs – the electrician said Why? There is nothing wrong with them.

Update (June 2010): Recently I discovered a loud rattling coming from the engine compartment. I stopped and got breakdown who were brilliant (Green Flag) and were on the spot within a half hour. He correctly diagnosed a broken pulley on the fan belt. I took it to a garage (NOT Colliers) who fixed it in no time and told me that it was cracked, and had ‘been cracked for quite a while, before finally breaking’ – Strange that Colliers did not spot this on the service isn’t it?

It is likely that Mourinho already views himself as a king of the continent following a previous success in the European Cup with Porto before his achievements at Chelsea, however, his work at Inter could eclipse all that he has done before.

With the Serie A title and Copa Italia already secured, Inter are on the brink of an historic Treble which could be achieved with a first European Cup in 45 years, while it would also offer Mourinho the chance to join an elite group of managers who have won the competition with more than one club.

For Mourinho then, the stage is perfectly set for his particular brand of dramatic publicity and he has been courting the pre-match media in style as kick-off approaches at the Bernabeu.

To add spice to the story, it is also ironic that the meeting with Bayern will take place in Spain’s capital where, if reports are correct, Mourinho is set to be managing Real Madrid next season to mean the final could be his last act as Inter boss.

Bayern, though, are not prepared to play the supporting cast and have matched Inter in their impressive season following a rejuvenation under manager Van Gaal, who was thought to be close to the sack in the winter.
Drama

In some quarters this match is being billed as ‘God versus Son of God’, with Van Gaal having acted as a mentor for Mourinho’s early career having offered him a break as his assistant at Barcelona in the late 1990s.

Bayern are themselves fighting for the Treble after finishing on top in a dramatic Bundesliga season and lifting the German cup to allow Van Gaal, a European Cup winner with Ajax in 1995, to reinforce his reputation as one of the world’s best coaches.

But while the Dutchman’s achievements have offered him the opportunity for a little broadside at Mourinho, “I think I educated Jose a little but he trains to win, I train to play beautiful football and win. My way is more difficult”, he remains aware of the threat.

Having advanced from Group F, Inter have stunned Chelsea, seen off CSKA Moscow and shocked holders Barcelona in the knockout stages to demonstrate that they have progressed from previously perennial European underachievers to arrive at the final as favourites.

Bayern, though, have also impressed after coming through Group A to eliminate Fiorentina, Manchester United and Lyon to set up a fascinating meeting with their Italian opponents.

Neither team will be at full strength at the Bernabeu as key men will be missing the showpiece event, which will be refereed by England’s Howard Webb.

Star

Inter are without Brazilian defensive midfielder Thiago Motta after he was controversially sent off in the semi-final with Barcelona.

Julio Cesar should keep his place in goal, while Maicon, Lucio, Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti are expected to make up the defence.

Esteban Cambiasso, Goran Pandev and Cristian Chivu are likely to form a flexible midfield trio behind Samuel Eto’o, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Milito.

Bayern are without star man Franck Ribery after he failed with his appeal against his red card in the first leg of the semi-finals against Lyon.

Hans-Jorg Butt will keep his place in goal, with Philipp Lahm, the highly-rated Holger Badstuber, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento starting in defence.

Hamit Altintop, Mark van Bommel, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben are set to operate in midfield, with Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller in attack.

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3277359,00.html

Come on Jose! You can do this, they are easily beatable if you get your tactics right on the night. Bayern should never have got past Man Utd, but United screwed up on the first leg and concentration lost in second. Keep both, Jose, and its yours. Oh, by the way, hang around, we want you to take over from Fergie!!

So I ask, whats up with the Liver Clocks? The last time I was up here, last year, one of them was totally wrong, never before had I seen that either.

Less than a week after becoming international development secretary, Andrew Mitchell began fulfilling his pledge to ensure value for money on aid by cutting development education projects.

OK, not as good as cutting overseas aid altogether (which I’d have much preferred…) but better than nothing.

As part of “a drive to re-focus aid spending”, Mitchell today announced an immediate funding freeze on five development “awareness projects”, a move expected to save the department more than £500,000.

And these vital projects, set up by our late, utterly unlamented government?

The five cancelled projects are

£146,000 for a Brazilian-style dance troupe in Hackney, London;

£55,000 to run stalls at summer music festivals;

£120,000 to train nursery school teachers about ‘global issues’;

£130,000 for a ‘global gardens schools network’ and

£140,000 to train outdoor education tutors in Britain on development.

Well, that would have been £500,000 well spent if Labour had won, wouldn’t it..?

Now andrew, what about that £18m Brown gave to china? One of the fastest growing economies in existence.

This happens because the planet gets so hot that its atmosphere puffs up to the point where the star’s gravity pulls it in. The planet will likely be completely devoured in 10,000 years. Observations by Hubble’s new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph measured a variety of elements in the planet’s bloated atmosphere as the planet passed in front of its star.

The planet, called WASP-12b, is the hottest known world ever discovered, with an atmosphere seething at 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit.