[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17884897

The Ministry of Defence says it is evaluating sites for surface-to-air missiles for the Olympic Games, and could place them at residential flats.

Residents at an estate in east London have received a leaflet saying soldiers could be placed there during the Games.

It says part of an air defence system might be based at a water tower on the estate, where 700 people live.

WTF ..... and who's paying for that .....

Normally, I don't have much sympathy for Southerners, but the citizens of London are being treated like dogs by the self-interested organisers of the Olympic Games - "big business" is going to make a packet while ordinary residents will have a summer of hell .....

[Mrluvaluva]

"Normally, I don't have much sympathy for Southerners". What? I read this before and it is crazy.

[Kizzy]

To assume there was not a chance of conflict from anywhere is silly. It is normal for certain 'role plays' to assess how to react if certain senarios do occur.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva

"Normally, I don't have much sympathy for Southerners". What? I read this before and it is crazy.

What?

[Omah]

Originally Posted by kizzy

To assume there was not a chance of conflict from anywhere is silly. It is normal for certain 'role plays' to assess how to react if certain senarios do occur.

Surrounding London with SAM sites to protect the "Games" and the interests of the sponsors smacks more of war than sport .....

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Omah

Surrounding London with SAM sites to protect the "Games" and the interests of the sponsors smacks more of war than sport .....

You think?...I couldn't possiby say

[Omah]

Originally Posted by kizzy

You think?...I couldn't possiby say

If you live in London, build your bunker now and stuff it with 3 months provisions, just in case .....

[Shaun]

how delightfully OTT and expensive.

[Kizzy]

I don't thank feck!

[arista]

"Normally, I don't have much sympathy for Southerners,"


Spiffing

[arista]

{"big business" is going to make a packet while ordinary residents will have a summer of hell.}

No Omah
some of the games are in 3-D

[gbuk01]

This is the kind of report which makes me smile as it brilliantly shows the hypocrisy of the UK population. We are quite happy for such armaments to be placed on roof tops in Iraq and Afghanistan in the name of UK security, but when it comes to security which is closer to home, the enthusiasm evaporates. It is good that London will get a glimpse of the reality which is far more extensive in parts of the World where our military are active.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by gbuk01

This is the kind of report which makes me smile as it brilliantly shows the hypocrisy of the UK population. We are quite happy for such armaments to be placed on roof tops in Iraq and Afghanistan in the name of UK security, but when it comes to security which is closer to home, the enthusiasm evaporates. It is good that London will get a glimpse of the reality which is far more extensive in parts of the World where our military are active.

A few fms opinions doesn't speak for the UK population.

Unfortunately we live in times that such events are a terrorists dream - It shouldn't have to be the case, I don't necessarily agree with it, but thisis the way the world is 'evolving' and I'm sure those making this decision are in a far more knowledgeable position to have come that conclusion that this may be needed.

Better safe than sorry....

[Marc]

I'll pay for it guys, I can cover that

[joeysteele]

If something did happen and the M.O.D. hadn't been prepared then there would have been massive moans and groans as to why better planning hadn't been done in the first place.
Better to be a bit over the top but also to be safe than sorry,just in case.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

If something did happen and the M.O.D. hadn't been prepared then there would have been massive moans and groans as to why better planning hadn't been done in the first place.
Better to be a bit over the top but also to be safe than sorry,just in case.

Once again, we agree Joey.

If they prepare for an eventuality: they are criticised.

If they didn't and something happened: they'd be criticised to hell and back.

I'd rather have the country prepared & ready to defend - regardless of the cost - than not.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Once again, we agree Joey.

If they prepare for an eventuality: they are criticised.

If they didn't and something happened: they'd be criticised to hell and back.

I'd rather have the country prepared & ready to defend - regardless of the cost - than not.

So would I Pyramid*, it's a long time since we hosted the Olympics and the World is a very uncertain place with some real crazy people around.
As you say better be prepared,despite the cost,than do nothing or little and get caught out by some fanatics.

There can be no price on security and protecting peoples lives.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

[/B]

So would I Pyramid*, it's a long time since we hosted the Olympics and the World is a very uncertain place with some real crazy people around.
As you say better be prepared,despite the cost,than do nothing or little and get caught out by some fanatics.

There can be no price on security and protecting peoples lives.

That's for sure - there are a lot of complete nutjobs about, who only have one focus in life - and that is destroying lives.

The part that amuses me is the sheer hypocrisy: most of the advances in the world (in the main) have originated from the Western World - yet those fanatics/terrorists are happy to utilise such knowledge / advancement/tools that came from same Western World that they claim to despise. Completely crazy.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

There can be no price on security and protecting peoples lives.

Security

The security operation is led by the police, with 10,000 officers available, supported by 13,500 members of the armed forces. Naval and air assets, including ships situated in the Thames, Eurofighter jets and surface-to-air missiles, will be deployed as part of the security operation. The cost of security has also increased from 282m to 553m pounds sterling. This will be the biggest security operation Britain has faced for decades. The figure of 13,500 armed forces personnel is more than Britain currently has deployed in Afghanistan. The Metropolitan Police and the Royal Marines performed security exercises in preparation for the Olympics on 19 January 2012, with 50 marine police officers in rigid inflatables and fast response boats, joined by up to 100 military personnel and a Lynx Navy helicopter.

Presumably the tax-payer, not the promoters or sponsors, will be footing that bill .....

Security officials are exploiting the Olympics as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to multiply and militarise their weapons stocks, laminating another layer on to the surveillance state. The Games justify a security architecture to prevent terrorism, but that architecture can double to suppress or intimidate acts of political dissent. The Olympic Charter actually prohibits political activism, stating, "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas". What "other areas" means is open to broad interpretation. So despite Olympics human-rights rhetoric, the charter dictates – if indirectly – that local authorities squelch political activism. On cue, London police recently vowed to scour social media to sniff out any organised protests or disruptions.

The Olympics will militarise London, with surface-to-air missiles at the ready, a Royal Navy battleship moored offshore, and soldiers on patrol. After initially estimating 10,000 security guards would suffice, the London organising committee determined more than double that number would be required. The ministry of defence is filling the gap with about 13,500 military personnel, 4,000 more than are currently based in Afghanistan. Not placated, the US declared it will send its own security to London, including 500 FBI agents.

The Olympics afford an opportunity to test-drive high-tech equipment in an urban setting. Lightweight aerial drones will hover above while "combined firearms response teams" – elite police units replete with snipers – roam below. Thus London 2012 will tender a legacy not touted in bid materials: a repression-ready security state. The military-grade technologies secured during the Olympics-induced state of exception become normalised for workaday policing in the wake of the Games. And this repressive urbanism is expensive: a whopping Ł1bn and counting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ondon-olympics

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Scott

you are not different though you are the same as pyramid

I am different from in that, I don't follow the mainstream of having everything others do, I am in good company indeed then with Pyramid* at this time.
What does it matter to anyone else if someone or others decide not to do something most others do.

Anyway what's your opinion on the topic on this thread.Is the M.O.D right or wrong in your opinion?

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Omah

Security



Presumably the tax-payer, not the promoters or sponsors, will be footing that bill .....

Well, to be fair Omah, taxpayers money gets wasted right left and centre by all Governments.

Are you really saying it is a waste of taxpayers money to ensure the protection of UK citizens and visiting athletes from all around the World for this event.
I personally don't think it is.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Omah

Security



Presumably the tax-payer, not the promoters or sponsors, will be footing that bill .....

And? What price human lives?

Care to show figures on how much revenue that will go back into the economy on the back of the Olympics? I'm quite sure there will be projected figures somewhere for that.

If you are going to copy and paste one set of figures: you may as well copy and past the contrast between the costs of one, and the revenue of another. If not: there's little point as all you are going to do is look at 'one side' and not consider another - which ruins the whole proces of debate.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Well, to be fair Omah, taxpayers money gets wasted right left and centre by all Governments.

I know, I'm a tax-payer .....

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Omah

I know, I'm a tax-payer .....

So are all my family taxpayers Omah and most of them would be happy to see this money spent on security.
I will be a taxpayer too when I finish Uni by the way.

[Patrick]

The Olympics are such bollocks and if I hear another thing about how amazing it is that they're being held in London etc I will shoot myself - I'd rather listen to World Cup talk than this.