Fact or fiction it's what some Americans were reading over breakfast the other morning One man's fake news is another man's gospel
troops heading back to afghanistan and russian interference State fighters in Afghanistan 'in touch with UK cells' Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson tells Sky News that the UK must act to prevent "future Manchester-style attacks". 11:28, UK,Monday 03 September 2018 please log in to view this image 1:30 The British government has revealed that Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan are communicating with cells in the UK and western Europe with the potential to carry out attacks. Although the rise of IS in Afghanistan has been well documented, it is the first time the government has confirmed the franchise now poses a direct threat to the UK. On a visit to British troops in Afghanistan, the defence secretary told Sky News that the UK must act to prevent an attack. "What we see is a real threat posed by these groups to the UK and we've got to be acting as we are to ensure that we do not see future Manchester-style attacks," Gavin Williamson said from the northern city of Mazeer-i-Shareef. "We consistently see terrorist groups operating here in Afghanistan, [and] evidence of their links back not just to the United Kingdom but to the whole of continental Europe." please log in to view this image 0:11 The group, known as IS-Khorasan or IS-K, is a rival to the Taliban and al Qaeda and has been targeted by US and British special forces in Afghanistan. Its latest leader, Abu Saad Erhabi, was killed in a US airstrike a week ago - he was the fourth IS leader to be killed in the country in the past few years. Thousands of foreign fighters are believed to have arrived in Afghanistan having been pushed out of Iraq and Syria but the defence secretary's words suggest the group is more established than previously thought. Sources wouldn't confirm whether any Britons are known to be among their number but said IS-K represents a "broad demographic". However, General John Nicolson, the highly respected outgoing American head of the international coalition, rejected the claim that IS-K is growing. "They have been able to replenish a portion of their losses by recruiting from other violent extremist organisations," he told Voice of America. "Despite this recruiting there are losing fighters and losing ground." please log in to view this image Image: With 400 more troops, the UK now has 1,100 personnel committed to Afghanistan The news that IS-K poses a threat to the UK is a worrying development and comes as 440 extra British troops arrive in Afghanistan as part of an uplift requested by Washington to tackle the threat and stabilise the country. Sky News was the only television news organisation to fly in with the troops. The total UK commitment to Afghanistan now numbers around 1,100 personnel, the third largest behind the United States and Germany. The small increase comes four years after British troops ended their combat mission in the country and left Camp Bastion in Helmand. The move was criticised at the time as being too soon, but the defence secretary defended it, pointing out that Afghan forces, not the international coalition, are now in charge of security across the country. "You've seen the Afghan government move forward very rapidly in terms of the development of their forces. I think what we have done is recognise where we can add value and support. "The Afghan people are one of the most proud people and nations you could imagine. They want to be able to defend their country against the threats they face." The arrival of more British forces in the country, to operate in non-combat roles, comes at a crucial moment. President Ashraf Ghani has offered formal peace talks to the Taliban and, although nothing is likely to happen before the presidential elections next year, there is quiet optimism. "We now have a real chance to make progress," Britain's deputy ambassador to Afghanistan, Giles Lever, told Sky News. "I appreciate that people have been saying that for a long time but we have a particular set of circumstances this year which do represent qualitatively different from where we've seen before since 2001. "First if all the president's peace offer to the Taliban, the offer of unconditional talks. Second, the US/South Asia strategy which doesn't set any timeline for US military support to Afghanistan. "Finally, the Eid ceasefire in June where we've seen something we had not previously seen in 17 years which was a complete cessation of violence and Taliban fighters coming into the city and welcomed." The suggestion of peace talks has attracted Russia, who recently proposed hosting the talks. Russian-funded radio stations are now broadcasting in Afghanistan, putting out anti-NATO messages on the airwaves. There are multiple reports that Russia has been arming the Taliban, sources say via Iran as a proxy. Mr Williamson criticised Russia's increasing "meddling" in the country. "What we want Russia to do is play a positive role in Afghanistan. I think that they could be playing a much more positive role," he said.
A strong statement by Nike to use Colin Kaepernick to front their new Just Do It campaign. They obviously judge Trump's unpopularity around the world to be a bigger factor than his redneck supporters in the US, who have been burning their products in response. Well played Nike, a big tick from me.
Hard to believe it's the 21st century in America, Kapernick has been the fall-guy so well done Nike. Rednecks are always burning something...
I question whether Kaepernick did the right thing to disrespect the flag, rather than aiming it at Trump personally. This could backfire on Nike in the US.
Kaepernick didn't disrespect the flag. It's about disproportionate police brutality towards blacks. Trump wants to deflect it to the flag because he has no defence against the actual issue.
Does the flag stand for the execution without due process of people based on the colour of their skin by law enforcement officers? That’s what he was drawing attention to, very effectively. As ex CIA director John Brennan said, what he did gave meaning to the preamble to the US constitution, building a ‘more perfect Union’ “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” The problem is bigots who think a bit of cloth is more important than real lives, or real justice. It might backfire on Nike, but even so they deserve more respect than I had hitherto granted them.
when did kneeling at a game equate to disrespecting the flag? The precedent was already set by Tim Teblow a few years before Colin Kaepernick.
... who knelt because he's anti-abortion. he was praised by (among others) Donald J Trump. But that's fine, because, well, he's white. Which is kind of Kaepernick's point. If the Pledge of Allegiance, the flag, the anthem, and all that have any meaning at all, then it has to be to prevent a white guy being praised whilst a black man gets called a son of a bitch who should be fired - for doing the exact same thing.
Interesting article about the IHRA definition. It's from The Canary, who araen't the best journalistic outfit but this particular article outlines many worrying facts about the pressure being put on to accept the definition in full, most interestingly about the fact that the IHRA claims the definition is "internationally accepted," which it is not. https://www.thecanary.co/opinion/20...into-a-trap-that-could-destroy-jeremy-corbyn/
I heard it was about protests about anti abortion. In any case, he could pray before or after but he purposely knelt during the anthem which is the whole uproar about the kaepernick thing. Was just wondering what goldie made of it
Get those robbing English pig fisherman off our scallop beds ... season starts in Oct you English swine The English have nicked the French scallops so they will nick the best tuna has although they were too thick to know it was there off Jersey There will be only one winner here Allez les bleus
Having looked it up from several angles I think Tebow was indulging in private prayer rather than making any explicit protest. Apparently he’s a religious nutter and is in the habit of falling to his knees all the time. However, the people who did interpret this one instance in 2012 as a protest against abortion hailed him as an American hero, and are doubtless the exact same people who are calling Kaepernick a traitor. Hypocritical ****wits.
You're commenting on the cause, I was focusing on the means of protest. If he wants to have a go at Trump, fly a balloon, wear a T shirt with "Trump sucks" on it, refuse to shake his hand, or lead a protest outside the US Supreme Court. I just don't see he's going to make a lot of allies by seeming to disrespect the American flag. Particularly given that Americans are known to be highly patriotic. Strikes me as dumb (in their words).
Taking a theoretical, if Raheem Sterling, protesting against stop and search, kneels when the National Anthem is played at the next England game, how will that be viewed and how much support would he garner? There are many better ways to make a protest and win support
