Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 9547179)

Wouldn't it be the entire population of Northern Ireland that knows all about rubber bullets? Even if we suppose that the security forces seek only to harm the "criminal element" that's not a weapon that can be used discriminately. The security forces enjoy a unique level of respect and support among innocent bystanders in Northern Ireland, perhaps the government seeks to achieve the same for the Met. Lowering the reputation of the police in London would certainly be an achievement for the history books.

Originally Posted by airbornesapper (Post 9547422)

As for the potential impact on an unintended target, if you are that close (nearby the actual rioter targeted)......your fault for being mixed up in the main mayhem...where use of these things was called for.

Originally Posted by airbornesapper (Post 9547422)

We will be over in the UK, the first two weeks of Sep....on a previous visit, a full-on pub fight broke out in the Cromwell Arms in Bovey Tracey...a coach load of scousers hell bent on trouble..first fight in the town since the English Civil War....We have a repeat dinner planned....hopefully that's the way it will be;)

Originally Posted by airbornesapper (Post 9547422)

There are not many in the population of NI that have felt one of these in the manner desired unless they were in a rioting mob...but ricochets will happen, usually hitting another rioter....so not always for naught.

As for the potential impact on an unintended target, if you are that close (nearby the actual rioter targeted)......your fault for being mixed up in the main mayhem...where use of these things was called for.

Can't have it both ways....The days ahead will be interesting....

We will be over in the UK, the first two weeks of Sep....on a previous visit, a full-on pub fight broke out in the Cromwell Arms in Bovey Tracey...a coach load of scousers hell bent on trouble..first fight in the town since the English Civil War....We have a repeat dinner planned....hopefully that's the way it will be;)

Originally Posted by London Mike (Post 9546293)

I'd say Cameron's Big Society looks pretty small tonight. Mindless, stupid, pathetic violence - yes - but this has been brewing for many months now. Anti-working class and anti-youth policies as well as other Govt initiatives have exposed and even widened divisions in Britain's society and created, in only one year, a generation of angry, disenfranchised young people with fewer opportunities than before May 2010. In Waltham Forest before the election last year there were 1 in 4 'neets' (not in education, employment or training). In one year that figure had dropped 1 in 3 - says much, really.

I'm sure people will argue with me on this point, so go ahead. I'm not condoning the violence but I lay the blame firmly at the door of Britain's unelected government.

To use a Canadian expression, what a ****ing gong-show.

Originally Posted by JamesM (Post 9547623)

Looking forward to discussing this over a beer Mike.

Personally I just think that the Policing was too soft.

There are 7 million people in London and this is a few thousand youth's running from High street to High street.

Originally Posted by jimf (Post 9546415)

This has been on the cards for years. In the past the mirage of a strong economy just papered over the cracks. Miliband has no more idea than Cameron does.

Originally Posted by Keith (Post 9547259)

You cannot just blame the government, there are many others that should take the blame.

For years jobs that used to be available to undereducated youth are no longer there and for this we can blame all of us that want cheap consumer goods.

When I left school at the age of 14 there were many opportunities for full employment, 90% of those jobs don't exist today.

It's easy to make cheap jokes about these riots but don't just place the blame on the government, we are all guilty.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 9547660)

that generation being told they are great and they can do anything if they put their minds to it. Except it's lies and now they are pissed off.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 9547660)

I feel there is some truth in this. But I can't quite get a handle on it. Something about the that generation being told they are great and they can do anything if they put their minds to it. Except it's lies and now they are pissed off.


+1 also. The solution is actually pretty simple - but we all want our slave built $40 dvd players from wal-mart.

Originally Posted by Souvy (Post 9547404)

I just had a call from my London office. They are packing up and going home because the rioting is coming their way. We're talking Wimbledon FFS.

Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 9547686)

Sup up your beer and collect your fags, there's a row going on down near Wimbledon...


The Eton rifles of David Cameron and Boris Johnson are on their way to sort it out... what chance have you got against a tie and a crest?

Originally Posted by Boy d (Post 9547713)

Loved that song...in fact I have it on me iPod.....

Originally Posted by el_richo (Post 9546557)

Isn't that a bit like blaming McDonalds because you're a fatty?

Originally Posted by airbornesapper (Post 9547136)

To use a British expression...."What a load of old Bollocks"....