Houla Massacre

Sometimes I really just dont get the world. Im reading Game of Thrones at the moment and in it there are some fairly unpleasant descriptions of killings, including children, but you think hey this is just fantasy, it wouldnt happen in our modern, civilised world would it ?
Then you open your morning paper and read about 49 kids, infants, toddlers butchered to death one by one with machetes. FFS how can people do that, what gets into someobdys head that can in any way make that a justifiable act ? Sometimes life is just utterly depressing.

Very shocking (obviously)

Of the 100 dead, 49 kids and 20 more were women apparently.
Even more appalling that it appears to have been the pro regime Syrian military who carried out the attack - although that's not certain

We all spend a fair amount of time i'm sure moaning about this country and i have been giving some consideration recently to upping sticks and moving elsewhere but it puts it all into perspective a little doesn't it. Of all the things that need improving in the UK, at least the army don't turn up in your village and kill your kids?!

True enough MPB but its more the whole question over human nature, how does this happen in so many countries.
Syria, Iran, Zimbabwae, Sierra Leone, and you only have to go back to Kenya to find attrocities from British forces, Vietnam for the Yanks. It seems there is a sick blood lust in people from every nation.
Ive long been of the belief that the world would be a better place if it was ran by women, bar Margaret Thatcher it has to be Said, Im sure that there would be a lot less killing and suffering.

Very true

Maybe Sarah Palin should be put forward as the inaugural world leader...........

Id make Joanna Lumley leader of the world. Imagine nice people with what seems like a lot of common sense being in charge, lets face it she would struggle to do a worse job than we have made of it so far.

In that case i nominate Holly Willoughby

Are you confusing common sense with huge baps ?
My missus has done some PR for the lovely Holly and unfortunately she is apparently a bit of a diva rather disapointingly. So Im going to have to veto her.

I do often confuse the two, that's how i ended up in the situation i'm in now.

I had assumed Holly ticked the 'nice' box but i am considerably upset that that may not now be true and that she may have deceived me. These politicians are all the same, no wonder she's running for world leader with those skills.
Fearne whatsherface is a bad influence.

Anna Hathaway? Can't do better than that. Seems nice. Does a lot of charity work, ergo common sense. Links to Shakespeare. Perfect candidate!

Vote Anne

You seem to be going down the young and pretty route, and who can blame you.
Im sticking to the older, more worldly wise but still attractive type lady...so Im throwing Mariella Frostrup into the mix. Beautiful, intelligent, that sexy voice of hers would charm anyone. Plus she is a Scandie and they have lots of common sense and got bored with wars way back in the viking days.
Vote Mariella !!!!

Interesting way to go and i can't argue about the sexy voice. BUT, just two minutes of investigative journalism has uncovered her political views to be left of centre. Would that be appropriate for a world leader? Also i have evidence of a friendship with Angus Deayton who has his own issues with alleged substance abuse as well as the unsavoury problem of him being a Man United fan. I'm not sure Mariella's image will stand up to media scrutiny.

If we're going old(er), still attractive, nice, with common sense - how about the obvious? Bella Emberg!

Vote Bella!!

From my point of view left of centre...but only just...is probably perfect, but I accept Im biased.
Bella, for all her qualities, I think would cause problems as people would think they were talking to John Prescott and nobody wants that.....

Hmm, i'm beginning to see how difficult this is.
I susepct this discussion has served as a microcosmic example of why we do not yet have a World Leader in place.

You may well have a point.

What about me?????

Suffice to say personally Ill be sticking with either Joanne or Mariella....

What are your credentials for the job LP?

If there's going to be a single world leader I suggest their first act is to commission someone to get rid of all the nuclear weapons. I suggest me and a company I will setup for the purpose.

Then when I have all the bombs I'll take over by blowing a few places (Paris, Frankfurt, Washington... that sort of area) and become a world dictator with my board of directors.

That should sort all the nonsense out

Getting back on-thread I guess that the reason we see this sort of atrocity carried out frequently, is because of the tribal cultures in these countries. We've seen it in Africa and north Africa and all points middle east. One tribe takes control and they enjoy being on top, and any other tribe that has an apposing view is seen as a threat. Iraq a classic case of one section of Sunni Muslims hold power and abuse it and historically hate the Kurdish muslims, so seek to obliterate them. It's the same all over these places and the kids are the main target. By killing off the kids, they can not procreate, so overtime the sect/tribe vanishes completley.

In the middle east oil riches means better prospects for the ruling tribes, and better weaponary and training. This makes genocide on an industrial scale easier. What would the world be like if the arabs had no oil? The middle east wouldn't be a problem. The African tribes do the same but use manpower and machettes to butcher their countrymen, because they come froma different tribe. There are people/races on this planet that should either be left alone to get on with it, or find a way of ensuring that education is given to all. Mind you look what education has done for some muslim extremists, they learnt how to build bombs to kill the great satan

LondonJonnyO wrote:If there's going to be a single world leader I suggest their first act is to commission someone to get rid of all the nuclear weapons. I suggest me and a company I will setup for the purpose.

Then when I have all the bombs I'll take over by blowing a few places (Paris, Frankfurt, Washington... that sort of area) and become a world dictator with my board of directors.

That should sort all the nonsense out

Which area are Paris, Frankfurt and Washinton in?

I was thinking more of the size of the place. Largish capitals and financial centres. Except London.

Ah, fair enough

Might as well include Edinburgh?

MustPuttBetter wrote:Ah, fair enough

Might as well include Edinburgh?

No. Have to be careful. Anyone whi survived might try to come south. And we dont need that.

Doc wrote:Getting back on-thread I guess that the reason we see this sort of atrocity carried out frequently, is because of the tribal cultures in these countries. We've seen it in Africa and north Africa and all points middle east. One tribe takes control and they enjoy being on top, and any other tribe that has an apposing view is seen as a threat. Iraq a classic case of one section of Sunni Muslims hold power and abuse it and historically hate the Kurdish muslims, so seek to obliterate them. It's the same all over these places and the kids are the main target. By killing off the kids, they can not procreate, so overtime the sect/tribe vanishes completley.

Whereas in this country we just set fire to our own kids

LondonJonnyO wrote:

MustPuttBetter wrote:Ah, fair enough

Might as well include Edinburgh?

No. Have to be careful. Anyone whi survived might try to come south. And we dont need that.

Very valid point. Nice. I'm coming round to the idea of giving you a shot at world leader

MustPuttBetter wrote:

LondonJonnyO wrote:

MustPuttBetter wrote:Ah, fair enough

Might as well include Edinburgh?

No. Have to be careful. Anyone whi survived might try to come south. And we dont need that.

Very valid point. Nice. I'm coming round to the idea of giving you a shot at world leader

This is not what I had in mind....