Seastallion

Bahrain is Shia. This has no doubt come from pressure from Big Sunni Brother across the causeway.

It has become apparent that all the Brit soldiers (or those that want to appear to be Brit soldiers) contributing to this discussion are severely missing the point and the message of the OP. Nobody is talking about battle deaths. Nobody is talking about heat of the moment, instant reaction deaths. The investigations are looking at wrongful deaths, and it appears (is alleged) that there were over 200 of them. It's got nothing to do with AlQaeda, ISIS, or the Taliban being nasty guys. Nothing. It's got nothing to do with your average Tommy being a brave chap. It's got nothing to do with Muslims taking over Europe. It has nothing to do with 9/11. It is all to do with allegations of murder or wrongful killing and torture.

If you think there should be no law with regard to wrongful killing or torture, take it up with the UN.

There is a big difference between non-violent protest and armed occupation.

The T word is being used by several news channels. Aside from it being federal property, there is the issue of crossing state lines to commit criminal acts, transportation of arms, etc. but if it can be categorized as terrorism, well, from here on these boys will leading a whole new life.

Yeah, these guys appear to emboldened by the way there was no response to the Bundy ranch thing, these things get messy politically and I would try the "ignore it and they'll get tired" tactic too. I think these boys have glory in their eyes, they'll die folk heroes. Is this suicide terrorism American style?

It's hard to do it legally as the sheriff has to act, but ignoring them would indeed be the way to go. Block the road off well back from where TV cameras can see them, forbid over-flights, and sit it out. Arrest them when they're bored and hungry. If they get no publicity, the wind will be taken from their sails.

He said that the investigation is not intended to lay blame, but to assure Defense Minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr of the project's fair practices.

That pretty much says it all. It WAS a whitewash.

Yep.

" He said that the investigation is not intended to lay blame, but to assure Defense Minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr of the project's fair practices."

The investigation was made ONLY because of outside pressures, and had the intention all along to NOT find any fault.

A waste of time.

Preposterous!

Just today, TV posted an article (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/883359-road-toll-rises-to-253-on-fourth-day/?p=10264099) which stated that 253 people died in road accidents since the beginning of these so-called "seven dangerous days", compared to 227 people during the same period last year. That is an INCREASE, not a "substantial drop"

According to another poster, the latest death toll figure now even stands at 292 dead.

So, where where where is that "substantial drop"? Ah, I see, fewer accidents overall... but not fewer deaths.

Perhaps Col. Sirichan thinks fewer road accidents with an actual increase in deaths resulting from these fewer accidents is a "success" that needs to be trumpeted...

To be fair, two buses colliding killing 30 people is one accident.

Ten motorcycles going off the road killing the ten riders is ten accidents.

Death toll and number of accidents, although related, are not the same thing in terms of numbers.

Whats a disgrace is that we send our boys off to fight 'to help' foreign countries,---sungod

Wow is that why they were sent........and to think some people were cynical enough to think it was all about Oil.............

Well, I did use inverted commas, besides where are the oil fields in Afghan?

There are other minerals in Afghanistan, plus they want to route a pipeline through it. Bit difficult for the western capitalist scum multinationals to exploit if a load of jihadists are running the country.

Anyway, the Brits etc are only in there and Iraq because Blair was Bush's poodle.

For those that think the squaddies should have been allowed to run riot in Iraq, how would you like it if a bunch of people from another country arrived in YOUR country and murdered your civilian friends, tortured you and your family, and generally behaved badly?

The way some of you are talking, I doubt you have ever been in the military, as you seem to think it's OK to just go around behaving badly just because you are wearing a uniform, when that is far from true, regardless of who the bad guys are.

You are governed by Military Law at all times, and making mayhem is not permitted.

Whatever the inquiry is about, I'm sure it's not about what happened in the heat of battle, but it seems that the US forces were not the only ones involved in murder of civilians and torture, neither of which is permitted under military law.

how would you like it if a bunch of people from another country arrived in YOUR country and murdered your civilian friends, tortured you and your family, and generally behaved badly?

Paris, London, Madrid, 9/11 ???? Where have you been?

Your other point, doubt all you want...............

See, there's where your irrationality shows.

Fighters fight fighters, or face the law for killing innocents.

What gives a squaddy the right to kill an Iraqi child? You're suggesting his right comes from 9/11. Ridiculous.

Can't wait for his response. Maybe impose article 44 to ban all calendars in Thailand.

Possibly. More likely he is at this moment speaking to the printers to design his own calendar, given away with a copy of his happiness songs cd.

It REALLY is a no-brainer.

Revenue plus safer roads. What's the hesitation for?

And it should extend further than just drunk driving: Unlicensed driving, speeding, overtaking on the left, overtaking a vehicle turning right, running red lights, failing to stop at a stop sign, creating a hazard by double parking....infringements of the entire Road Code.

Can't they see that the laws in place now could reap MILLIONS in fines if only they would enforce them?

I forgot a biggy (that you may not have in BKK)...driving the wrong way! There's not a day that I don't have to swerve to avoid a motocycle coming at me, often when there's a car passing me so I'm forced into a dangerous situation.

Apples and pears.

Thailand could try to exit once it becomes apparent that Thailand's inability to move forward (in terms of accepting English as the common ASEAN language and accepting international standards (safety, business integrity etc)) and Thailand's xenophobia WRT "lower class" neighbours who will excel in the ASEAN community.

Thailand is stuck between a rock and a hard place: Lose face nationally as Thais become the workers for Burmese and Lao entrepreneurs, or lose face nationally as Thais are forced to adopt foreign standards.

Completely different kettle of fish with Britain and the EU. Different problems, and thus nothing to learn.

As a retired Clinical Psychologist, may I suggest having him tested and evaluated before going on with the prodigy and thinking his brain will stagnate if nothing is done, it will not, but he could be shamed into "dropping" his ability by his peers. Incidentally, never should you call a person, regardless of whom they may be, a prodigy without being able to substantiate the comment without documentation and verifiable facts. Your word alone is not sufficient evidence to support your claim.

" never should you call a person, regardless of whom they may be, a prodigy without being able to substantiate the comment without documentation and verifiable facts. Your word alone is not sufficient evidence to support your claim. "

I think that you, as a clinical psychologist, would be less pedantic about how people use words, and understand that often people communicate imprecisely.

To zero in with a very narrow definition is not very empathetic, nor is it linguistically wise.

Lets take Wattana's statements as truth and reasonable (just for argument's sake).

In which case, all the people facing charges now should still be facing charges..... for utter incompetence and stupidity.

"and the Prayut government allowing tax deductions if someone spent at least Bt15,000 shopping in the week up to the new year.

"Projects which aim to help poor people have never been regarded as illegal," he said."

Eh? Come again..... How many poor people spend 15 000 in a week on shopping, and how many of them even pay tax in the first place.

The example is one of helping the rich (again).

Two things come out of this:

1. It's a poor example to support Watana's stance, and

2. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!! Prayut, whiskey tango foxtrot are you doing?

I'm not condoning the taking over any building, gov't or privately owned.

But this...

"Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit the fires on federal land in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires.

The two were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time — the father three months, the son one year. But a federal judge ruled in October that their terms were too short under U.S. minimum sentencing law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each."

Is that something that happens often? Someone is convicted of a crime, serves time, is released early, then a couple years later a judge says, 'oh, you didn't serve enough of your sentence, get back to jail'? I can see where that would piss someone off.

It sounds like the first judge was sympathetic and was far too lenient according to law.

Pissed off? Sure, but then, do the crime, do the time. You can't go around burning public land.

" .....enforcing the ban although road accidents remain high......".

So, what was the effectiveness?

I wonder if it was the 23, 200 offenders who didn't have their vehicles impounded? That's at least 23200 x 500 baht in police pockets.

So now...if you are a California nut case...you have to wait 21 days before you pull the trigger...nice...

Well, no. not really. All you have to do is buy another gun, which is so easy, and with no background check, you could be pulling that trigger in half an hour or less.

But I take your point...although the bill does allow for mental assessment too.

""These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives to attempt to over throw the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States," Ward said in a statement on Sunday afternoon."

Although I think these protesters are stupid and have not thought this through, the above statement from the sheriff is a worry: He is already vilifying the wingnuts to a level of treason, thereby justifying their deaths.

And it will not surprise me if it all escalates to some sort of Waco situation.

Who's looking after the animals?

Anyone who thinks it's OK for British soldiers to commit murder just because they are fighting in a foreign land needs to take stock of their values.

Were you ever a volunteer in the armed forces and in a fighting unit (of any country)?

What's that got to do with the price of fish?

As a soldier ,how do one "unlawfully of lawfully kill some one in battle.? That would be like proscuting the bomber pilots of the 500,00 people killed during the fire bombing raid at Tokyo in 1945.

People who have some intelligence realise that the OP is about crimes of unlawful killing, which do not include killings in battle.

Hint: Think civilians deliberately targeted, prisoners, unarmed people etc.

Duh.

i cant believe there are so many british hate'rs.maybe if they had a loved one who never came back from fighting for them to have a safe life,or a relative who had been a prisoner of war,they might have a different opinion.

or are you one of them that never buy a POPPY.

Would you care to give us an example of any British hatred in this thread?

Condemnation of murder by British soldiers is not "british hatred" (sic).

Soldiers can not do anything with impunity. Sure, most are fine lads and brave, but the bad apples, no matter how brave at other times, have to pay for their crimes.

Hey seamare have you ever been in combat for your country?

I'll assume that was a childish barb at me, changing my name like that. I reply to it only to emphasise your childishness.

What has my combat history got to do with holding an opinion that any soldier who deliberately kills a civilian should face justice.

You guys make it sound like all soldiers have a license to kill whoever they want. Guess what? They don't.

nothing but a <deleted>>--g disgrace,and who is going to make money? YES YOU GOT and where is the money goner come from? RIGHT AGAIN.

What's a disgrace? That the British Army has murderers and other types of criminals? Yes, I agree, it's a <deleted> disgrace.

That's why the British Army has the Royal Military Police - to investigate cases of criminality and murder.

This is more a politically motivated witch hunt trying to appease all those lovely British and European politicians who want to pretend we are the nasty element in fighting a despicable, fanatical and barbaric terrorists who want to impose their culture, religion and laws on us; or execute us all.

But as the forum Islam terrorist apologist you assume that any who fight them must be criminals. Or should have to prove their innocence.

The families of all those beheaded, burned alive, raped and butchered by these scum may have different opinions to you.

Anyone who fights terrorists is doing us a service.

Anyone who kills the civilians of a village where a terrorist sniper was working, is a criminal. Anyone who puts a bullet in the head of a handcuffed suspect is a criminal.

That's not terrorist apologism.

Anyone who thinks it's OK for British soldiers to commit murder just because they are fighting in a foreign land needs to take stock of their values.

Of course murder should be investigated, and if found guilty, every single criminal should be sentenced to the full degree of the law.

You are entitled to your opinion, and I must agree that criminals that prey on our peaceful British civilian society MUST be punished, even if they are followers of that odd cult of Islam. But to hold an enquiry into so called 'war crimes' allegedly perpertuated by members of one of the best professional armies in the world?They were in a battlefield situation and under a great deal of stress,and acted according to the situation as they saw it. Second guessing by chairborn PC tossers after the fact is stupid. These people are the ones who die so that YOU and I can sit at our keyboards and comment. My friend Pondgelding would agree with me on this.

You are saying war crimes should not be investigated and prosecuted?

What, when the war crimes are to your side? Germans and Japanese soldiers during WW11?

And if you think about it, these alleged crimes were probably perpetrated against civilians (unlawful deaths)....and that's OK by you, too, because they are of the same nationality as the people the Brits were fighting?

The Mai Lai massacre was OK?

Abu Graib was OK?

nothing but a <deleted>>--g disgrace,and who is going to make money? YES YOU GOT and where is the money goner come from? RIGHT AGAIN.

What's a disgrace? That the British Army has murderers and other types of criminals? Yes, I agree, it's a <deleted> disgrace.

Of course murder should be investigated, and if found guilty, every single criminal should be sentenced to the full degree of the law.