Ozi

So you haven't worked out that I'm in the military, that I've had 'exposure' in the middle east, that my role with asylum seekers was stopping them arriving here and if they did get through, detaining them so they can be sent back. Mis-remembering and confused doesn't describe your responses. Missing something so basic is proof that you only read the parts you want to read or you are incapable of understanding and processing simple logic and information. As for Aylan Kurdi washed up on the Turkish beach, there are FACTS THAT PROVE his father IS NOT A GENUINE REFUGEE, so the only debate is whether he is a people smuggler, responsible for the death of 12 people, or not a people smuggler, therefore only responsible for the death of 3 people. Either way, scum. Asylum seekers? Genuine refugees? Now fighting amongst themselves. Why are these young, fit men not fighting to defend their own country. Why is the media NOT showing the real picture of asylum seekers, we see lots of photos of women and kids yet 75% of asylum seekers ARE MEN, FACT. The lie continues.

Our prisons have dozens of people smugglers, all scum like most of the people they try to bring into the country. All of them are innocent, of course. The government doesn't tell me what to think and I don't agree with half of what my government does, but I accept my duty and will carry it out, regardless, because that bit I do agree with. I swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law, as a member of the Australian Army for the period of six years, and any extensions of that period or until retiring age and that I will resist her enemies and faithfully discharge my duty according to law. SO HELP ME GOD! I don't need some talkfest and analysis of the facts, I live with the facts. I have some of the scum in my neighborhood, in my town, and they bring their shit culture and attitudes with them. I've been well trained and when the shit hits the fan, and it will, I will do whatever is needed to protect my family, my friends and my neighbors. And I won't have my hands tied by some bullshit rules of engagement. The sad bit for the tree hugging liberals who think everybody is worth saving, is they will have to defend themselves. By the time they realise what's going on, with no weapons or skills, I'm guessing they'll be collateral damage.

As a result of that photo, Pickering came up with these: She's even got the strapon ready for Obama.

So when I quote an article that was published by Network Ten, then isn’t THAT the fact? I didn’t say HE WAS A PEOPLE SMUGGLER, I quoted the article. Or do you think Network Ten are making it up? And when I quote the content of a live interview with the man’s aunt in Canada, who made the statements about him living in Turkey in safety, that he was unlikely to be accepted as a genuine refugee, that she was sending him money, that he needed dental work he couldn’t afford, that his wife didn’t want to get on the boat, isn’t THAT the facts?. Or are you suggesting the station that recorded the interview made it up, or someone was pretending to be his aunt? And when I suggested that what was described is a fairly common TTP of people smugglers, isn’t THAT a fact? Or do you think the military make up this stuff and just write it in manuals for the hell of it? So based on all the FACTS, it is more than feasible that the claims are correct. There are three women involved in the information I posted, the women on the boat who claims he's a people smuggler, the woman's sister who translated for her AND the man's aunt, who provided most of the FACTS that indicate he is NOT a genuine refugee. As is usual you read the bits you want to read.

Towards the end of the 1800s questions arose as to how the Jewish people could overcome increasing persecution and anti-Semitism in Europe, which led to the political movement, Zionism, to establish a Jewish homeland in the Middle East. In 1916, the Brits convinced Arab leaders to revolt against the Ottoman Empire (which was allied with Germany). In return, the British government would support the establishment of an independent Arab state in the region, including Palestine. However, in 1917, to get support of Jewish people, the British Foreign Minister Lord Arthur Balfour, issued the Balfour Declaration, which announced the British Empire’s support for the establishment of “a Jewish national home in Palestine.” From 1920 to 1947, the British Empire had a mandate over Palestine. At that time, Palestine included all of Israel and today’s Occupied Territories, of Gaza, West Bank, etc. The increasing number of Jewish people immigrating to the “Holy Land” increased tensions in the region. And if things couldn’t get worse, there was a deal between Imperial Britain and France to carve up the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire and divide control of the region. The spoils of war were to be shared, creating artificial borders, support of monarchies, dictators and other leaders that could be regarded as “puppets” or at least could be influenced by these external powers. After World War II, the newly formed United Nations recommended the partition of Palestine into two states and the internationalization of Jerusalem. The minority Jewish people received the majority of the land. US support for the Israel state was driven by internal politics. The United States not only accepted the UN plan, it aggressively promoted it among the other members of the United Nations. Truman acknowledged later, in his memoirs, that he was “fully aware of the Arabs’ hostility to Jewish settlement in Palestine.” He, like his predecessor, had promised he would take no action without fully consulting the Arabs, and he reneged. Truman’s decision to support establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine was made against the advice of most of the State Department and other foreign policy experts, who were concerned about U.S. relations with the Arabs and possible Soviet penetration of the region. Back then they believed it would not only create anti-Americanism but would also require U.S. troops to enforce it. There is evidence to suggest that support for Jewish admission to and statehood in Palestine may have had another domestic political angle. That support sidestepped the sensitive issue of U.S. immigration quotas, which had kept European Jews out of the United States since the 1920s and had left them at the mercy of the Nazis. In other words, support for Zionism may have been a convenient way for people who did not want Jews to come to the United States to avoid appearing anti-Semitic. In 1948 approximately750,000 Palestinians were driven out of the new Israel into refugee camps in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and other regions. It should be noted that many Jews were also expelled from surrounding Arab countries. Zionist organizations and even some Arab nations also encouraged many Jews to immigrate to Israel. As with Palestinians, expelled Jews often had their land and/or bank accounts and other property seized. In 1956, Britain, France and Israel invaded the Sinai peninsula after Egypt nationalized the Suez canal because these waning empires feared further loss of power, this time of a major economic trading route entry point for the West to the rest of the Middle East. While Egypt was defeated, predominantly US pressure forced their withdrawal. So who is to blame for starting the current Middle East crisis? Everyone, but mostly the Brits and France for promises they didn’t keep. Who is to blame for it continuing? Everyone, but maybe the US for encouraging and pushing for the Brits to leave the Sinai back in ’56. Should have left the Brits there. Even at the end of WWII they realized they would need boots on the ground to control the region. As for the Americans involvement in WWII, the allies wouldn’t have survived without them and the Americans couldn’t have done it without the allies. It was sheer mass of numbers and resources, added to some huge military blunders on the part of the enemy.

The best (potential) front page of a newspaper I've ever seen:

Yep, my mistake (keep forgetting I'm not on the protected species list even though many think I am).

Bet she can't compete with our ex Prime Minister, Julia Gillard: Briefing the Foreign Minister: Advising the Reserve Bank: Getting to know the State Premiers:

Here we go, one of the few threads actually worth checking out about to be flooded with inane crap and bullshit.

You're right, how could he be a 'people smuggler', such an upstanding citizen. Even his aunt has gone public to vouch for his integrity; -living in Turkey for three years (not a real refugee after all); -not likely to be given asylum in Canada (oh, not a real refugee); -tried to get to Europe for the safety of his family (and get his $14,000 worth of dental work done free); -planned to then move through Europe and then on to Canada illegally (pretending to be a refugee); -made his wife come along with the kids even when she didn't want to go (had been safe in Turkey for 3 yrs); His aunts words during an interview. A different source states that the Turkey-Greece route has resurfaced these summer months as a thriving business for smugglers profiting from the stream of people fleeing war and poverty. One example: traffickers in Turkey are getting help shepherding growing numbers of Syrians to Greece, thanks to Syrian accomplices. Syrian accomplices? Could that possibly include Abdullah Kurdi? You need to learn a bit more about people smugglers and their TTPs (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) before you comment on what may or may not have happened. Would he take his family with him? Yes, to justify his being there if caught. If not caught, takes the boat back (someone has to, this wasn't a cheap rubber dinghy but an expensive speed boat). Or maybe he was just using the masses to hide his wife and kids, get them started on the journey to Europe and Canada ahead of him. I've been involved with this kind of shit for many years and what the woman claimed about him and his family is a fairly common tactic.

So the truth is coming out. A woman on the same boat as Alan Kurdi says the boy's father is a people smuggler who begged her not to dob him in. Zainab Abbas said Abdullah Kurdi had lied to the world after the image of his dead three-year-old son on a Turkish beach sparked a global outpouring of support for Syrian refugees. "Yes, it was Abdullah Kurdi driving the boat," Ms Abbas told Network Ten through her cousin Lara Tahseen on Friday. Ms Abbas also lost two children when the boat capsized shortly after leaving Bodrum for the Greek islands. After the tragedy, Mr Kurdi told the media he took over steering the boat after the captain panicked and jumped ship. Aylan Kurdi appeared in newspapers around the world, prompting sympathy and outrage. But Ms Abbas said Mr Kurdi was the driver of the boat, and the man she paid to book her passage told her it would be safe because the driver was taking his wife and two children.

Great idea. About 90% of the BS is in "The Apartment" threads, that makes it easy.

In memory of the 2,977 victims killed in the September 11 attacks, in particular the 411 emergency workers who responded to the World Trade Center- -343 firefighters (including a chaplain, two paramedics, and a fire marshal) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY); -37 police officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD); -23 police officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD); and -8 emergency medical technicians and paramedics from private emergency medical services

"Healthy constructive debate has in the past been a hallmark of this Democratic Republic. In the old days, Congressman would debate voraciously all day and then go to dinner together as friends." The old days are gone, it's time for action, there's been enough talk already. While we've been talking, our enemies have been preparing. Actually I'll correct that, while our enemies have kept us talking, their allies have been preparing. As for nuking the middle east, no I don't agree with it. When we first invade, maybe, but now it's too late 'cos we've let too many escape. Good response by the way, no facts to dispute again.

As I said, you should go into politics. I see you have a running mate to go with you. As for strong views, I do more than share my thoughts on social media, I am doing something about it.

Good answer, you should go into politics, a whole paragraph without having to provide anything factual.

The real frustration of dealing with people of 'your ilk' is that even when presented with undeniable facts, the choice is to ignore them and continue with the fantasy world. A good example is your claim that American taxpayers only contribute about $60 a year to fund your enormous welfare costs. That $230 million that Australia just donated to the so called Syrian refugee crisis has cost me about $38 and that's just a one of expense. About 48% of families in Australia with a taxable income actually pay less tax than they receive in various welfare payments. I'm not saying that some of those payments aren't justified but it means 52% of working families carry 100% of the burden. You talk of genocide. Do you not understand what is happening in the world today? Do you not listen to or read more than the sanitized news? Birth rates of people indigenous to European countries are below sustainment levels for those societies, yet birth rates overall are up. How? Refugees, muslims, breeding at twice the rate of their host countries. You talk of genocide. What do you think Islam is about? This is not some fictional story line. Cultures all over the world are changing because of the impact muslims have on society. If you claim to not have experienced it in some way, you really are delusional. Read the Quran, I am. If this were fictional, it would be a sci-fi and Islam would be The Borg, assimilate or die. No conspiracy all the way up to our government leaders? Look at Australia right now. Donating $230 million towards the Syrian refugees. Committed to support the bombing of ISIS in Syria. BUT will not lift one finger, drop one bomb, fire one bullet at Assad's troops. Yet Assad's regime is blamed for the current refugee crisis, which was happening long before ISIS. He is responsible for the deaths of 250,000 Syrians. Not only no support for the Kurds, who are probably Syria's and Iraq's best hope in beating ISIS, but we turn a blind eye to what the Turks are doing. I have no illusions about what caused some of the problems in the middle east and I agree we made two mistakes. We interfered in local politics, thinking we could control them, in hindsight big mistake. But when things turned pear shaped and we ended up invading, we didn't finish the job, major mistake. We are well beyond the blame game, totally irrelevant now. Now we need to be in survival mode because if we don't start taking some serious steps to protect our society and way of life, we will lose it.

Colonize mars? I can live with that, but leave my outback alone, that's my retreat. If they have to have something, give them the city centres where they can fight it out with the crack heads and dealers, that way it doesn't matter who we shoot, they all deserve it.

Underestimate the power of Islam at your peril. Father David Smith, a Sydney Anglican priest, has now made four humanitarian missions to Syria, the most recent in July. Quote: Yet the country itself is far from entirely dysfunctional. Syria is going a lot better than Iraq thanks be to God. There is a fully functioning bureaucracy. Unlike Lebanon, where garbage has not been collected for months, the garbage is collected in Syria. As the country somehow stays functional in most areas, its people maintain their spirits. Everywhere we went on our most recent trip in July, we saw thousands of kids, and all had fire in the eyes. They were full of life and spirit. The streetlife was extraordinary, despite no lighting at night. People were dancing and drinking. What I didn’t see was a sense of resignation. There is a very strong sense of patriotic solidarity in Syria. People are gathering around the flag and around Assad, even if it’s not to do with him as a person or any decisions he has made. Then this today: AUSTRALIA will boost its refugee and humanitarian intake by 12,000 permanent places and provide more than $40 million for United Nations efforts to deal with the Syrian crisis taking Australia’s total contribution to the crisis to $230 million. Strange that we have no money to fix our hospitals, support our veterans or assist our pensioners. $230 million buys a lot of military equipment and provides a permanent solution, not a charity case that will bleed us dry.

So true, I'm voting for the issues I support, not a particular candidate or specific party. Now all I need to do is figure out how I can split my one vote between two or three candidates. The ballot paper won't let me use fractions.

NOT ACTUALLY A JOKE BUT I THOUGHT IT FUNNY - NEWS ITEM TODAY: Barvetta Singletary, a special assistant to Barack Obama, was arrested last month after she allegedly fired a pistol at her boyfriend during a domestic dispute. And not just any boyfriend, but a Capitol Hill police officer whose sidearm she stole and fired at him in a jealous rage. We noted at the time that had she been a Republican the story would have been recycled on an endless news loop. Instead, there was nary a peep from the Leftmedia about her crime — she resigned at the end of August almost without mention and certainly without fanfare. Now, she’s facing assault charges, though Bearing Arms' Bob Owens finds that convenient, too. “You’ll note that Singletary is not facing the sort of charges one would expect in rabidly anti-gun Maryland,” he writes. “She did, after all, take a law enforcement officer’s weapon, threaten him with it, and then fired a shot at him. Various state and federal charges would seem to apply, including attempted murder. It must be nice to be politically connected.” Surely she should at least have to pass a background check before doing any more work for Democrats.

Too little, too late. Waves of people are arriving in Europe for “opportunistic” economic reasons rather than because they fear for their lives, the Liberal backbencher Cory Bernardi has argued. Speaking on Monday against a Greens motion urging Australia to resettle an extra 20,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees, Bernardi said the country needed an ordered migration system and could not simply open its borders to anyone. “At this stage, I do not believe there is any need for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people to be ditching their identification and trying to get into Europe for reasons of safety,” Bernardi told the Senate. “Many of these people have been very safely ensconced, working and housed in places like Turkey for many years. “This seems to me to be becoming an opportunistic cycle which is masking the true humanitarian need that is the responsibility of all western nations.” Bernardi also criticised the father of Aylan Kurdi, the drowned three-year-old boy whose photograph sparked an outpouring of public sorrow and sympathy. “The facts remain that that terrible image was not brought about by recent events in Syria or Iraq,” Bernardi said. “That boy and his family had lived in Turkey for three years. The money for that boy’s father to pay the people smugglers was sent from Canada. “The father sent them on that boat so the father could get dental treatment. They were in no fear, they were in no persecution and they were in no danger in Turkey.”

I'll bet that all the other apartments on RLC breathed a sigh of relief So did a lot of CC members. I just hope the bullshit doesn't start up in the other apartments.