They should come in on a visa and then apply. Albanians for example can apply for a visa and stay for 180 days. Why don't they? Presumably because there is something in their record, criminal convictions etc that would not entitle them to a visa.
Could I have a visa to visit the UK please? What's the purpose of your visit? I want to claim asylum. **** off.
Given that Albanians have free movement in the Schengen area, it probably would be **** off, because they can move to anywhere in the EU and claim asylum Except that countries like Germany turn down virtually all Albanians claiming asylum. Hence, when they come illegally to the UK, they come as economic migrants. Of course, we have a pathetically soft asylum assessment system so we treat more of them as asylum seekers than the EU countries do. There is no war in Albania.
From what I understand the Liverpool protest/riot took place because an immigrant/asylum seeker had been shown on Facebook to be asking/ accosting young school girls for their phone number. Was obviously hijacked by people who were quite happy to have a ruck, whatever the cause…..as has previously taken place. Anyone down Tate Britain right now ?
Next you’ll be saying it’s not completely normal for a bloke to dress up as Widow Twankie and read stories to 4 year olds
Pretty sure Hitchens is no longer on the approved reading list for this thread Can't argue with most of what he says in that article though
Superb article and so true “Now, if you have doubts about the Ukraine war, you will find yourself falsely accused of being a defender of Mr Putin, or of being a ‘denier’ of war crimes” Reminds me of some of the more right-leaning posters in here
As a conservative Christian wouldn’t Mr Hitchens welcome Armageddon? After all it’s the inevitable end stage of his world view/ideology. Rest of the article, beyond the usual attempts at self justification (a family trait) makes sense. Time to seriously try to stop this war. Russia is not going to be ‘defeated’ in any conventional sense, it never has been. UN mandated and organised votes in Crimea and Donbas to see which country they really want to be part of, and guaranteed safe free passage to those who wish to leave these areas because they don’t like the result. New international Marshall Plan to support reconstruction. Pause on expansion of NATO and EU eastwards. Incentives to Russia to open up through relaxation of sanctions. Everything on the table. Hopefully Putin croaks soon. I’m sure that the vast majority of Ukrainians, and Russians if they are allowed to be propaganda free, just want to be left alone to get on with improving their lives and communities without being bombed on a regular basis or seeing their sons, brothers, husbands called up to be shot at. The propaganda we are subjected to in the west really doesn’t encourage a balanced peace focussed international effort.
No time for Peter Neville Chamberlain Hitchens. Putin cannot be allowed to civilian-bomb his way to a favourable settlement. Nor will he use nuclear weapons because, at the very least, he would reduce Russia's international profile and reputation below that of the only country would then support him - North Korea
Hitchens is truly a master of his trade. Puts concise and well argued thoughts down in such a brilliant way…..far better than I ever could. Im awaiting the usual suspects on here to start chanting “traitor” and “burn the witch” well before they actually read the article…..it’s the Not 606 way
No, I've read his articles before. Does it tell you anything that the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems are united and determined that belligerence should not win re the invasion of Ukraine? As indeed, the EU appears to be.
I’ve shifted my views a bit. It’s not as black and white as I originally, and ignorantly, thought, though Putin (as an individual, not Russia as a whole) is still the bad guy in my eyes. But who cares, the only objective should be to stop people being killed in a way which allows them to live normal lives without being shat on by politicians/dictators later. I don’t like Hitchens P. I used to like his dead brother, but I’ve gone off him as well. They are two sides of the same coin. People who have rigid views and believe they have the answers to everything aren’t to be trusted in my view. Plus people who have opinions for money, or monetise their opinions are low down on my respect ladder. However, doesn’t mean that sometimes they get it right……and will then spend the rest of their lives telling us how right they were.
What I’ve been saying all along G….but seemingly many of the political class are intent on prolonging this war for as long as possible……it’s almost as if there might be some motive behind it
