B Sousa.....

Don't feel bad mate, if your team packed its gloves, bats and balls and left the diamond I am sure the teams left would still make a go of it with whatever resources they have left. You never know it may be all for the better!

Don't start on the French though, that would need a new thread and about 300GB of server space!

:ooh:

Fox3
Your starting to get mellow.....We need fighters......

Surditas - if California is the 4th largest economy (fifth actually), how come it's virtually bankrupt? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3105425.stm

I suppose comparing the economies of California (big) and, say, Liechtenstein (not) could be a bit like comparing Marconi and our local chip van.

The bloke who runs our local chip van seems to know what he's doing.

Size isn't everything. Or so they tell me. ;)

Beagle,

If I knew the answer to that I could be Governor of the Republic of California.


Actually, I probably couldn't as I am not a bodybuilder nor do I have perfect teeth.

Well beagle, problems and all its only marginially smaller than the the UK when both economies are compared. California also has about 24 million fewer people adding to the economy. Time for you to come out of retirement as it seems you chaps are lazy.

But it does have the second biggest film (or Movie to you guys) industry in the world - I am sure that helps boost its economy just an incy wincy tad :ok: If all the 'rich and famous' moved out of there the economy of California might not be quite so much to write home about.

MadMark!!! :mad:

And if perhaps the crown gave all of its riches back to the people it belongs to you might open the gap on California. Perhaps even move ahead of Germany.

No - if people are going to start giving things back to their rightful owners, perhaps you colonists might think about returning large chunks of Spam-land to the Native Amuuuuuuuricans - or whatever your PC title for red indians is these days.....

And I'm sure Russia mght be interested in Alaska, Mexico in Texas, etc etc.

Take first the plank from.............?

Beagle
You first, give Ireland back to the Irish and then we will talk.

Not until we English get England back......

I wonder if the Scotts would like a crack at it alone also minus interference from down south.

It's a deal if the Scots and Welsh in the Cabinet go home.

Blair, Brown, McCartney, Darling, Reid, Hain, Murphy, Williams... and can I throw in Prescott who was born in Prestatyn. ;)

Very much doubt if anyone could even lift Fatty Two Jags, let alone throw him anywhere......

What was the thread topic about again?

West Coast

One word....YAWN!

:ok:

I think that it is fair to say that there would never be any near misses if the RN kept the Sea Harrier (SHAR for those in the know)

I find it hard to believe that everybody is having a go at the Americans but are missing the point that without organic aerial defence the fleet has left itself open to disturbingly keen ppruners to flog the same old dead horse, and repeat themselves for the umpteenth time.

The other day my milkman delivered two pints of semi-skimmed instead of the usual three. This would not have happened if the Sea harrier (SHAR) was to continue in service.

Of course, not only am I interested in the Sea Harrier (SHAR), but also I greatly value the inputs that Jackonicko
has to offer. I was extremely excited to hear of his extensive aeroplane checklist collection. I just thought that he was an overly keen wordsmith, but little did I know about his passionate and quite normal collection of all things aviationally dull.

Did I mention that i like the Sea Harrier (SHAR).

Pontious. Ok, but did the US forces first secure the Oil Ministry for any certain reason? If that information is quite accurate and complete (not 'heavily filtered' by biased media), I'm just curious whether there was critical info there as to how the pipelines could be protected or operated. That petroleum might be, potentially, the main source of revenue for the long-suffering Iraqi people. But my info consists of a provincial newspaper (also sometimes the "NY Times"), NBC news and Pprune, thanks to all of y'all.

It is hard for me to believe that so many troops all went to the Iraqi Oil Ministry and were ordered to avoid hospitals and waterworks etc. In the movie "The Road Warrior", one of my favorites, this was the true focus for everyone (I really 'like' the blond warrior princess with the bow and arrow-maybe lust is more accurate...). The media seems to almost never mention the hundreds of Iraqi schools repaired/built by Allied forces, or is this stated anywhere very often?

It would be wonderful if all the troops were brought home, but what evidence is there that the country can operate itself? Billions (Milliards) of Euros might have to be spent first. Why would the imported and domestic terrorists allow a democratic govt to function in Iraq? No democracies have ever existed in that part of the world, outside of Israel. Maybe democracies are not welcome anywhere else?

:ouch:

I don't see why the western governments won't admit that one of the reasons to invade Iraq was for oil. It's a vital strategic and economic asset. I see nothing at all wrong with ensuring its supply.

Surditas:

then you are one sick little puppy.

What if, for example, Russia decided that North Sea oil was a vital and strategic asset for them, and needed to invade us to ensure it's supply?

But noooooo, it's only ok when WE do it :rolleyes: