http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17246432
Too bad Blackwater (took such a shit-kicking or they could been in the running. They're called Academi now - really catchy, eh !)
I did notice the Blackwater Tactical gear is still available http://blackwaterusa.com/
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-LAX9cTD-5Rs%2FTWgrIOBVcUI%2FAAAAAAAAXw8%2FldQfJsLf2IA%2Fs1600%2Fblackwater-xe.jpg&hash=b1558824d7324bb866bf47045669e30009f4078b)
Not to mention that plans are in hand for disbanding the army, and using private contractors as required. The Warrior ICV's will be hired out to TNT for express parcel deliveries to 'problem area's', whilst Tornado's can be hired as executive jets.
RN frigates will be available in the summer season as pleasure boats and cross-channel ferries............
It was also sugested that aircraft carriers would make ideal Ro-Ro container ships..........until someone pointed out the fact that we no longer have any aircraft carriers.......... :(
Quote from: bob48 on March 03, 2012, 04:14:52 PM
It was also sugested that aircraft carriers would make ideal Ro-Ro container ships..........until someone pointed out the fact that we no longer have any aircraft carriers.......... :(
Ro-Ro? That would be funny if it weren't so dumb.
I wonder if the recent rumblings around Las Malvinas sobered any minds in London?
....there are minds in London?...........news to me, pal.
Quote from: bob48 on March 03, 2012, 05:11:28 PM
....there are minds in London?...........news to me, pal.
We have similar discussions on this side of the pond.
It just gets worse and worser(yes I know that this is not a word)
Is there anybody in government that is actually in touch with the reality of being an ordinary tax paying citizen?
There are many areas where I would support privatization but law enforcement is just so off limits that this is not even amusing.
Attend a football match in Scotland and watch how these private security neanderthals work and sorry no, no, no.
Totally agree - it could compromise the whole police system in the UK - why the hell don't they just use the money to keep up the established police force - as you say, they seem to have lost touch with reality - and the buggers scrapped our aircraft carriers........ >:(
I used to have a neighbor in Z (formerly Blackwater). He was one scary dude. He was also never home. He also had a girlfriend who looked to be 10 years younger than him and was pretty darned attractive. Must have been his assault rifle.
BTW, I keep misreading "bobbies."
Quote from: The Puss on March 04, 2012, 03:42:14 PM
There are many areas where I would support privatization but law enforcement is just so off limits that this is not even amusing.
We agree on this point. Police should be public servants, not private mercs.
Some are great, some are good, some not so much, but as inefficient as government can be, a public police force is the best solution. Ditto fire and utilities and general infrastructure. And schools - at the local level.
After that...we can talk about whether anything else belongs there.
Yeah, and I'm with LB here. Private police forces are a bad idea. I'm not crazy about private military forces (read mercenaries), because I feel like warfare should be tied to serving one's country voluntarily rather than serving coin (Rome fell not long after, and somewhat due to, relying upon foreign mercenary forces).
Police should be public servants. That's pretty clear. Paid-for police are too easy to bribe.
A certain German dictator relied a lot on private armies and police early in his career. That didn't go so well. A more modern, ficitonal-yet-still-relevant reminder of how private policing can backfire is this guy:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-K7k78AWmJ5E%2FTWT1TrT9zcI%2FAAAAAAAAB2Q%2FIGEFtlOU18M%2Fs1600%2Frobocop1.jpg&hash=cf9b01f479d5626f48100f57eb480e3d4250408c)
And worser = more gooder (to me)
Wouldn't you love to see that show up after calling 911 !
^Not if they didn't fix those er...glitches.
Here's a suggestion...why not bring back some form of volunteer community watch...auxiliary police? Volunteers can be very effective at helping full timers.
They just recently did away with this in my rural area a few years ago, much to my disappointment because I was going to do it.
And since then, in a few nearby towns [not mine yet] they have brought volunteer police back. Sounds like it could work almost anywhere. Getting regular people involved is always more gooder. And definitely better than a private army...er police department.
Quoteauxiliary police
The ironic part is that the "auxilia" forces were the barbarian mercenaries to which I referred that brought down the Roman empire (well, they were technically called the
foederati by that time).
Quote from: son_of_montfort on March 05, 2012, 11:04:46 AM
Quoteauxiliary police
The ironic part is that the "auxilia" forces were the barbarian mercenaries to which I referred that brought down the Roman empire (well, they were technically called the foederati by that time).
Fine. Then use volunteers and call them something else. It harkens back closer to the days of a minuteman militia and is truer to American roots.
Up by me, believe it or not, they were called constables and rode bicycles on their rounds. I am willing to do it on foot with my dog. I do it now anyway! You wouldn't believe the things I find on these walks. I really do think that community policing is effective.