Economic migrants who were never interested in integrating fully into the communities they went to! Still if I understand the rhetoric correctly, we don't need to bring them back to the UK - they should just go to the first safe country they reach and stay there! [* I am well aware of the technical differences between UK passport holders and foreign nationals seeking to come here].**** me, there are some vile people on this forum.
I wouldn't have put it like he did, but I do agree they should be contributing financially if they expect the uk government to help them out.
But the thing about tax and social security is you are meant to pay before you need the benefits not hedge your bets and only contribute if you need help!Seems only fair. I imagine your average non taxpayng brit exile can afford to chip in.
I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I'm having a really hard time believing a Shahed drone could be launched from Iran, cross Kuwait/Iraq, Syria/Jordan and reach Cyprus without a) being noticed and b) being shot down.
Given the sheer volume of expensive radars in the area, someone must have seen it and noticed the course. Did they just no care?
And now, with a tinfoil hat on: Was it allowed to go through knowing that it would drag the UK in as well?
Was it allowed to go through knowing that it would drag the UK in as well?
I'd like to understand why the US would even need to use British bases given how many US bases already surround Iran
I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I'm having a really hard time believing a Shahed drone could be launched from Iran, cross Kuwait/Iraq, Syria/Jordan and reach Cyprus without a) being noticed and b) being shot down.
You might want to take a closer look at a map. It doesn't need to go anywhere near Kuwait and will only cross northern Iraq and Syria to get to the Med. If the vector across those territories didn't look like it was in danger of hitting something critical, you likely wouldn't waste a Patriot on it. It's speed and altitude will almost certainly conform to a Shahed and they'd leave it alone until it's mission became clearer or a cheaper asset (Typhoon with a canon or Dragonfire for example) could be used to engage it.
I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I'm having a really hard time believing a Shahed drone could be launched from Iran, cross Kuwait/Iraq, Syria/Jordan and reach Cyprus without a) being noticed and b) being shot down.
Lebanon to Cyprus is about 300kms, and would take a Shahed about an hour and half flight time. They're pretty hard to spot if they're as low and slow as that.
So you're only British if you pay tax here? Is that where we're at? You are Rupert Lowe aicmfp.
Is it Dubai/UAE specifically where British expats shouldn't get help? If we're being fair I guess the folk working in hospitals in Nepal can go suck lemons the next time the place is flattened by an earthquake. Those fools managing sustainable irrigation projects in Burkina Faso? Tough titties if Islamic State come knocking.
Or is it just particular tax regimes that exclude you from help? Or particular jobs? How about if you contributed to the UK tax system before you moved abroad? And should we be calculating the net give/take up to that point and making a decision based on that number?
Or maybe we should just aim to be not quite as nasty and simply get British citizens out of an active warzone.
Look over there, don't look over here.
https://bsky.app/profile/wartranslated.bsky.social/post/3mg337k7lck2j
@Daffy I had a big look at the map and saw exactly the same thing as you did. Sure, if launched from a site in the northern part of the country it would have an easy transit across mostly open country, but even northern Irak and Syria have radar (Erbil has a US presence I believe). I'd also expect the US to have AWACS up coverign the whole of the border between Iraqn and Irak to guard/get warning against any incursion/launching from the north down into Kuwait/Saudi.
I would also, if I were someone looking at the flight path a suspect drone has and wondering why it was heading west, they might draw a conclusion that it is heading towards Israel (in which case a warning about that) or something else military in that general direction. There's a whole lot of nothing _apart_ from Akrotori in that general direction that is not "friendly" or neutral to Iran.
But, whatever, the UK's in the game now and I would expect any such future launches to be flagged up ASAP.
Or is it just particular tax regimes that exclude you from help? Or particular jobs? How about if you contributed to the UK tax system before you moved abroad? And should we be calculating the net give/take up to that point and making a decision based on that number?
tiktok follower count?
I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I'm having a really hard time believing a Shahed drone could be launched from Iran, cross Kuwait/Iraq, Syria/Jordan and reach Cyprus without a) being noticed and b) being shot down.
ukraine have been hitting sites in Russia nearly 2000km from the front lines with drones
There are already concerns about gulf states running out of interceptor missiles before Iran runs out of missiles and drones
we also dont know how many might have been shot down
Flight time from Iran would be about 3 hrs and the shortest route would be across iraq and the syrian desert
Something tells me Trump has bitten off more than he can chew.
Both downed 15s are reportedly due to friendly fire in Kuwait
https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2028424933794087326
I love that Russian ZBloggers are calling it the Epstein Coalition!
meanwhile Trump has complained that Starmer didnt get involved at the start because he was worried about laws or illegality or something
https://bsky.app/profile/pippacrerar.bsky.social/post/3mg362nfmms2e
as I said b4 by sticking the the legal advice he has managed to piss of everyone
Operation Epic Fury.
I mean honestly...
It sounds like he was worried about the legality.
That's the difference in governments being led by lawyers vs. criminals I suppose.
It can't be a coincidence that Ayatollah Khomeini was killed on 25 Feb. In the Islamic calendar that is the 11th day of the 9th month.
Both downed 15s are reportedly due to friendly fire in Kuwait
Is IFF not a thing anymore then? Or is it down to lack of coordination. The US must have known where their planes were, maybe they just didn't tell the Kuwaitis? To shoot down one aircraft maybe regarded as misfortune... To shoot down three...
Is it Dubai/UAE specifically where British expats shouldn't get help? If we're being fair I guess the folk working in hospitals in Nepal can go suck lemons the next time the place is flattened by an earthquake.how many medics working in Nepalese hospitals were there chasing the money? how many's natural instinct was to leave as soon as an earthquake struck? So yes there probably is a difference!
FWIW I believe the UK usually does expect citizens (or their insurers) to repay the costs of evacuation flights. I assume anyone who had planned to be out there for all of March to qualify for their overseas tax payer status (and who does make it back to the UK this month) will have to pay HMRC in due course - HMRC have never been big on special cases.
To be fair, it does suggest the Kuwaiti AD systems are quite effective at what they do, even if they dont necessarily know exactly what they're shooting at. That's not to trivialise what's happened, obviously.
Or is it down to lack of coordination.
Training, situational awareness, leadership (or lack of) failure to follow instructions, basic stupidity?
Regardless of whether you think the actions are justified, USAF pilots are some of the most highly trained individuals around, I doubt the error was there, The Kuwaiti military on the other hand...
Operation Epic Fury.
I mean honestly...
The South Park guys called it 20 years back. It's almost like a prophecy. We're now living in an out-take from Team America
Something tells me Trump has bitten off more than he can chew.
I think more than he understands...he has surrounded himself by MAGA / Trump 'yes' people, many of whom seem thick as he is. The next level of leadership seems to have more common sense and intelligence, but that is just not enough to hold him back.
I really do worry about the next few weeks. Iran and supporters will not let this lie, and while it is currently military action, I suspect that terrorist actions will also follow and these will be digital and physical.
I also think that Starmer has stepped into a conflict we would have been best keeping out of at this stage. While following the attack on the UK base we may have a legal right to assist/defend, I think that the long term game would have been better played out by not seeing to get involved in any of it and distancing ourselves from the USA.
The one possible benefit of this is that Iran and Russia are allies. The strikes on Iran will have reduced what is being supplied to Russia for Ukraine attacks, and Russia has no resources (human or military) to assist in Iran.
Worrying times we live in.
To be fair, it does suggest the Kuwaiti AD systems are quite effective at what they do, even if they dont necessarily know exactly what they're shooting at. That's not to trivialise what's happened, obviously.
im pretty sure the Americans will have supplied them
Sorry that should be 28 Feb (fat fingers and little buttons!)It can't be a coincidence that Ayatollah Khomeini was killed on 25 Feb. In the Islamic calendar that is the 11th day of the 9th month.
Or maybe we should just aim to be not quite as nasty and simply get British citizens out of an active warzone.
It's not being nasty to suggest if you've left the country specifically to line your pockets and avoid paying tax, you should contribute when you expect your country to bail you out.
Noone is suggesting we let them rot in a war zone to teach them a lesson
The speech Pete Hesgeth is presently giving is truly beyond parody
Actually... Pete Hesgeth is truly beyond parody
I'm expecting it to end with a rounding rendition of AMERICA, ****, YEAH!
Something tells me Trump has bitten off more than he can chew.
The problem is that the orange buffoon has bitten off more than any of us can chew, regardless of the resulting international indigestion
what a ****
Yep, time to stop clutching pearls, and tell the US to **** right off.
I'm expecting it to end with a rounding rendition of AMERICA, ****, YEAH!
We have truly entered the age of the pissed up jock chanting USA! USA! USA!
Meanwhile in Europe..
https://twitter.com/Indiatweet_/status/2028180723589693731?s=20
Well yes it obviously COULD be a coincidence but when you take into account how completely obsessed many Americans (and the vast majority of MAGA ists ) are with the 11th of September attack then I reckon the chance of a coincidence reduces considerably.It can't be a coincidence that Ayatollah Khomeini was killed on 25 Feb. In the Islamic calendar that is the 11th day of the 9th month.
Or, it could just be a coincidence.
It's tenuous. And you think the average American understands the Islamic calendar to that extent, they would draw such a conclusion?
Righto! 🙂
Indeed, they don't even know they have written the date wrong
The only reason that I know about it is because of an American car forum that I go on. It's similar to this forum in that there is a "chat" section where people can discuss anything. They are all over it! Lots of flag emojis , lots of "Took us long enough USA USA" crap.They absolutely LOVE it! They are all convinced that the timing was deliberate ( whether it was or not). These are the people who got Trump into power and they love him for this!It's tenuous. And you think the average American understands the Islamic calendar to that extent, they would draw such a conclusion?
Righto! 🙂
So yes some Americans may not understand the Islamic calendar but it only takes a few that do to announce it to the others for them all to go mad over it.
It sounds like he was worried about the legality.
That's the difference in governments being led by lawyers vs. criminals I suppose.
Yeah, but he's fluffed it by then giving the US access for "defensive" operations - managing to upset everyone in the process. However, I don't agree with the huffing and puffing that decision made UK citizens "legitimate targets" for Iran. First, civilians are never legitimate targets (something Israel and the US need to remember) and second, the UK was already unpopular with the Iranian regime.
On the Ukrainian angle: Russia already licensed and started local assembly of Shahed drones. The last I casually read, there were very few Iranian-made drones being fired into Ukraine by Russia. I fear that being dragged directly into this Iranian conflict will dilute the amount of attention and resources that can support Ukraine. We should focus where we are effective instead of chasing issues all over - and collaborate with our European partners to be more practical.
how many medics working in Nepalese hospitals were there chasing the money?
At least we're at the crux of the matter now. Envy over how big some people's bank accounts are. And why not chase the money anyway? Everyone needs it, so why not try to get a bit more of it if you can?
The UAE have a massive oil & gas sector, as well as ports, finance, tech, etc. For every lifestyle guru and fake day trader on Tiktok poncing about in a hourly-hire Lambo there are 1000 expats doing actual jobs. I sincerely doubt any of them are phoning their GP in e.g. Walthamstow or claiming jobseekers allowance, or voting in UK elections. They're not benefitting from anything in the UK so why the hate? Unless, you know... envy.
It's not being nasty to suggest if you've left the country specifically to line your pockets and avoid paying tax, you should contribute when you expect your country to bail you out.
Noone is suggesting we let them rot in a war zone to teach them a lesson
"I do hope that all those uk citizens in the Middle East hiding for tax avoidance purposes get no help from the uk taxpayers."
Seems pretty clear cut what the suggestion was. The UAE is paying for all extended accomodation and repatriation flights anyway, so it was as pointless a comment as it was spiteful.
And no I don't work in the UAE and yes I do pay tax in the UK, so it's not like I feel personally attacked by the comment. I just think it's pretty shitty to think a British citizen shouldn't be helped because you've decided they don't deserve it despite having absolutely zero information about them other than assumptions gleaned from a couple of Instagram memes.
The speech Pete Hesgeth is presently giving is truly beyond parody
Actually... Pete Hesgeth is truly beyond parody
I'm expecting it to end with a rounding rendition of AMERICA, ****, YEAH!
America…**** yeah….hoo-rah……hoo-rah……hoo-rah. (With his tiny dick furiously pumped with his sweaty palms under the desk)
Well yes it obviously COULD be a coincidence but when you take into account how completely obsessed many Americans (and the vast majority of MAGA ists ) are with the 11th of September attack then I reckon the chance of a coincidence reduces considerably.
You know that "Tehran" written backward in Lao spells "Epstein", don't you? Well, I mean, it doesn't, but if it did, it would be a powerful message.
To shoot down one aircraft maybe regarded as misfortune... To shoot down three...
They appeared to be very easy to shoot down. Given that I know nothing of fighter jet technology, would it be because, as they were in friendly territory, they didn't have defence systems switched on? Or are they just a bit shit?
