Fingers crossed for Pen Farthing and Nowzad

Deedaa

If Pen had been allowed to leave quickly and quietly as soon as we had raised the money for the plane it wouldn't have been the big news it has become. The government's prevarication and constant mind changing (yes you can, no you can, yes you can) has turned it into a big story. If the Taliban get hold of them now they will publicly torture and kill the animals and the people while assuring us it's all our own fault.

He has tweeted that they have come under fire but all ok including the 140 dogs and 60 cats.

If Pen had been allowed to leave quickly and quietly as soon as we had raised the money for the plane it wouldn't have been the big news it has become. The government's prevarication and constant mind changing (yes you can, no you can, yes you can) has turned it into a big story. If the Taliban get hold of them now they will publicly torture and kill the animals and the people while assuring us it's all our own fault.

It’s the extremists who are quite frankly deranged, thinking they will be rewarded in heaven for being suicide bombers, the ordinary people don’t have their interpretation of the religion, they want to work hard and provide for their families. Sorry as I am for the animals, the plight of those that put their lives on the line helping us take priority.. I love all animals but people come first. My hopes and prayers are with them

Germanshepherdsmum

Just like the kamikaze pilots in WW2, who were honoured for their sacrifice, though I don’t believe there was any religion involved there. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think that the true Islam religion does teach that such atrocities will be rewarded, rather it’s the extremist notions of what the religion means.

Yes I think you are correct, it is the extremists interpretation of the Koran.

Just like the kamikaze pilots in WW2, who were honoured for their sacrifice, though I don’t believe there was any religion involved there. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think that the true Islam religion does teach that such atrocities will be rewarded, rather it’s the extremist notions of what the religion means.

I really struggle to get my head round a religion that thinks you will be rewarded in heaven if you blow yourself up and kill/injure as many innocent bystanders as possible ???

we have always had rescue pets too. I seem to be stuck with a difficult rescue breed because others cannot cope with them and cause me loads of problems indirectly.

I can't bear to watch what is happening in Kabul these men that think they have ownership over people are feral

You and me both LondonMzFitz. Have always had stray and rescued animals. Would never consider buying. I know I’m very much in the minority but I find breeding cats and dogs for sale, and buying pets, obscene. They are sentient beings, not commodities. Apologies for having digressed.

It's so awful, isn't it?

There are just no words to express the desperation those poor people must be feeling.

Warnings of more suicide bombers. Those poor people. As if things aren't terrible enough for them without ISIS rearing it's ugly head.

Blondiescot

And now there's been an explosion at the airport - reported suicide bomber, with casualties also reported.

Well that is what the ISIS die bards warned…

Callistemon

NotSpaghetti

AGAA4

It seems that given a choice of you and your family being shot by the Taliban or the lesser risk of getting out in the hold of a plane, I would think many would choose the latter.
Seeing distressed children in those crowds at the airport makes me angry and upset.
Children and parents first before cats and dogs and I do like animals but if it were between a child and a dog I would put the child's safety first.

I agree AGAA4 but we are obviously in a minority on this thread.

I agree too but if it's a case of people not being allowed in the hold then the rescued animals might as well be in there.
Although we do have so many abandoned and neglected animals which need loving homes in this country already.

And yet thousands of pounds being made by people breeding dogs and cats and so many reports of dogs being snatched from owners. Rehome don't buy. I do judge people who tell me they've bought dogs from breeders, paid £££'s for them. My opinion of them dives.

I'm watching Al Jazeera news with live feed from the Kabul Airport explosion and feel sick to my stomach. Utter anguish for all of this horrid, horrid mess.

NotSpaghetti

AGAA4

It seems that given a choice of you and your family being shot by the Taliban or the lesser risk of getting out in the hold of a plane, I would think many would choose the latter.
Seeing distressed children in those crowds at the airport makes me angry and upset.
Children and parents first before cats and dogs and I do like animals but if it were between a child and a dog I would put the child's safety first.

I agree AGAA4 but we are obviously in a minority on this thread.

I agree too but if it's a case of people not being allowed in the hold then the rescued animals might as well be in there.
Although we do have so many abandoned and neglected animals which need loving homes in this country already.

news.sky.com/story/afghanistan-armed-forces-minister-says-desperate-afghans-cannot-be-moved-to-bring-ex-marines-animal-rescue-staff-to-front-of-the-queue-12390846

And now there's been an explosion at the airport - reported suicide bomber, with casualties also reported.

I am sad for all waiting to leave.

And me.

Me too Jane

well I feel really sad about the poor animals

I don't honestly think any of us want to leave the animals behind either to be honest.

The whole situation is dire.
Get them out.
Process them later.

I have heard that the charter plane has had to be cancelled because of the impossibility of it getting into Kabul airport at present. Whether that really means cancelled, or simply postponed, I don’t know. I have seen enough of humans to prefer animals, thank you. What anyone on here thinks of me for that I really don’t care. It’s reported that one of these humans is likely to be wearing a suicide belt. It’s a fair assumption none of the animals will be.

The situation is getting utterly desperate now. It's heartbreaking. Let's just drop all the humans v animals debate - it's not helping. How can you not have compassion for what Pen, the staff and these poor animals are going through right now? It is literally a life or death situation and every minute which ticks by brings them closer to the latter.

tickingbird yes Jeremy did used to travel in the hold but that was one man and I doubt very much that he was there during take off but in a proper seat

Just to make it really simple, this quote can be put at the end of any more "Children before animals" posts

Heappey explained in the next 24 hours, 11 RAF flights will be going to Kabul airport to evacuate as many civilians as possible.

This would make 3,000 seats available for evacuees but the minister explained capacity wasn't the problem, it was being given access to the airfield and security checks on personal being allowed onto the flights. >end quote

The animals will have to be euthanized if they can't get them on the flight that has been chartered. They can't leave them in crates on the airfield. I've posted earlier in this thread there is a 90 minute window for the plane landing (with supplies that are badly needed) and taking off with Pen, his staff, their families and any others that have the papers in place and have been authorised to leave. If they can get the animals on the flight in that time it's an absolute win for this Operation and moral will be sky high. If not - There is a small clip of film of the animals in their crates on the trucks waiting to be allowed onto the airfield with water being sprayed into a crate for a dog to drink. Temperatures on the ground in Kabul is 30² and they've been there waiting for hours.

Daily Express are running this story - discussing Farthing's flight, in particular, the politician (James Heappey) said: "It can land. We're aware of this flight that has been chartered by a polish operator.

"We're aware of the plan but as Dominic (Dyer) said, the issue is getting Pen into the airfield and there are some hard realities about that."

Heappey explained in the next 24 hours, 11 RAF flights will be going to Kabul airport to evacuate as many civilians as possible.

This would make 3,000 seats available for evacuees but the minister explained capacity wasn't the problem, it was being given access to the airfield and security checks on personal being allowed onto the flights. >end quote

It's not about numbers it's about getting through the security to ensure the people are who they say they are, that they are entitled to come to the UK.

I've made a point on Twitter that Pen Farthing, a Royal Marine, with SC - Security Clearance - has employed these people and has vouched for them, so surely it would be feasible to get these people out and process further down the line.

If anything should happen to Pen, I despair for this Government and in particular Ben Wallace - there'll be a queue of people following him down the road kicking his arse for the rest of his life.

*Also, Pen's wife is Norwegian, worked for a Norwegian Charity in Kabul with Afghanistan Women Athletes; the Norwegian Government told her to leave last week - it's not like Pen sent her off to safety while he remained behind, it's not like the British Government had any hand in getting her out. Pen said in an interview I saw that his wife is her own person and makes her own decisions. As it should be.