Off to bed now. I've decided to take my grandson to Beamish for the day tomorrow to avoid a newspaper.
Last letters become first - March 26
WORD ASSOCIATION - 9th May 2026
Blair took us into the Iraq war (to keep his American allies happy) and the Middle East was de-stabilised.
Its even more unstable and Cameron seems keen to send bombers there,presumably to keep his EU allies happy (given his negotiations...).
ISIS/DEA-SH thrive on chaos. They are a death cult aimed at hastening the end of the world. (Day of Judgement, Islam style).
Given the chaos in Syria and Iraq with all the different factions on the ground and Russia joining the throng in the air I cannot see why joining in would be either helpful or wise.
The poor civilians on the ground are now in fear of Assad, De-ash/ISIS and the bombs.
Cameron's arguments are thin.
Here are some more arguments on the other side voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/11/27/how-many-innocents-will-die-because-of-right-wing-labours-petulance/
Your MP will be heading back to their constituency to think about this over the weekend.
If you are against the bombing please, please write to your MP.
You can use this very easy site. You just type in your postcode and the site will ensure that your MP gets your email. They will be getting lots of emails on the subject so there is no need to be long-winded, so it's a 5 minute task. www.writetothem.com
Off to bed now. I've decided to take my grandson to Beamish for the day tomorrow to avoid a newspaper.
Thank you Wilma, yes it stayed alight for the whole hour even though there was a wind, comforting really,
Thank you dj. whitewave I agree and it makes life much easier if you take people at face value. I'm doing it again. What a load of rubbish. A true cynic must have coined the phrase, unless it's more about insincerity? 
God!!!!!!!
Oh what are we supposed to do then?
I suppose that some people actually get out there and help and don't talk about it or signal about it. Perhaps that is actual virtue, I don't know, would that be it?
I was watching the news last night and saw a vigil taking place where tea light candles were being lit. For some reason it made me smile to see one of those ignition things you can get for gas cookers being used instead of matches. The trivia that crosses your mind. 
Does anyone know if any other country in the EU has either been asked by France or has taken the initiative to involve themselves in the bombing of either Syria or IRAQ to stand in solidarity with their 'union' allies?
Yes. After the Paris attacks, France invoked Article 42 asking the EU for help. You can read more about it here
France asks EU for help.
Many EU countries were already part of the International Coalition.
Shouldn't it be Virtue Signalling - madness and illogical of course.
I describe a group of people as "Daily Mail Readers" and that, apparently signals my perceived virtuous view of myself because it says that I am not one of the "Daily Mail Reader" types but ...
If someone then describes me as a virtue signaller are they not signalling their own perceived virtuous view of themselves as not being the sort of person who would virtue signal by describing a group of people as "Daily Mail Readers".
Calling people Virtue Signallers just seems like a sort of inverted something - like inverted snobbery but something else 
Yep, kettle and pot spring to mind Gracesgran 
Having just come across the concept ( surprising what you learn on GN) as none of my circle of friends have ever used it to describe someone (perhaps they are too kind). I am now trying to work out what I can say that isn't VS.
Never understood virtual signalling, often used by two here to mock others , not interested in what it means , must be bitchy
Well seems we are not to call IS. IS, Cameron has said they are not to be called IS. ISIL, Islsmic State or the other names ehich I can't recall. Big Boy said he wants them called Daesh, you have been warned ladies and gentleman and women
I am upset today watching the morning news, after an hour of the vote there were planes off to bomb the IS, Im not interested in politics and don't want to get involved in a bitch fight with any one on grans net but I feel for the innocent people over there who are being slaughtered , I also worry about what the repercussions will be over here. What sort of world will my DGD grow up into, if there is any world left. We grandmas should unite and tell the world to stop this fighting. I know that's impossible but I just hate war and fighting.
Good post ethel - with you all the way.
ethel there used to be an organisation called "Raging Grannies" it began in Canada. They met and demonstrated and sang peace songs. I remember the late Tony Benn saying he met them outside a meeting somewhere and wanted to join them. Maybe it is time for a resurgence. Something has to be done. I knew that the vote was most likely to be for bombing, but still wanted to cry when it came through.
raginggrannies.org/
And me - count me in ethel and trish
I was a raging teenager, a raging mother and am now a raging grandmother 
It needs to be developed-bombing alone is neither here nor there-in fact can create reprisals.The campaign needs to be developed-concentrations created in "safe areas" to accommodate the victims.Common sense really-the role of the UN /UNESCO etc.The best the bombing can do is to deprive natural economic resources.
Yes I was a raging teenager I so wanted them to destroy the nukes, now they have Im glad. I raged as a widowed mother as I was not given any priority to seek a job, it seemed as if younger widows were ignored. Now Im a raging granny. I rage over sexism, ageism and now the war.
Grannies of the world unite and talk some sense into the politicians who think they are doing the right thing.
I've now read all posts and I'm reminded of asking my father when the horror of WW2 became clear to me, 'Why did no one stop Hitler?'
If you were a civilian in Syria now, would you not be hoping and praying that someone, somewhere was going to come and help you?
I don't follow, have as much political knowledge as some of you but agree with Ginny there have been beheadings, people buried alive, people thrown off the top of buildings. I would have thought I would welcome intervention as life was hell on earth.
WW2 was not won by dropping bombs but by troops on the ground. The suffering of the people in Syria will go on. They just have another set of bombs to take cover from. I don't suppose they look up and think "Thank goodness it's a British bomb, that's OK then."
Off topic, apologies, but I saw the women from the ANC singing and supporting Reeva's mother after the further verdict in South Africa today, very moving.
I suppose if you stay out of their way you would be alright. Not all of Syria is over-run with them. If you lived in a place they are currently holding, you would have to do as they say.
They probably feel that is better than being blown to smithereens. Or buried under rubble.
Our bombers did target their oil fields only.
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