Security at the Olympics

[bridge too far]

another 1200 troops deployed today...no summer hols for them then

 

thank god my days of getting involved in this crap are long gone

 

remember the foot and mouth crisis....helped out in that and it was a bit of a laugh....I remember jumping up on a dead cow that was just shot and my feet went through its guts and I was knee high in cow....

 

Op Fresco was the one that still gets me mad (and nearly everyone else that was involved)...utter toss pots those firemen for doing that (for what they were demanding)

 

I think you may have mentioned this once or twice before.

[Saint_Pedro]

But it isn't - this is a really great country! Those of you that live here, speak to foreign people you work with and ask them a) why they are here, b) what do they think compared to their country and c) would they go back.

 

Working for a large company with worldwide offices, many people choose to work in London/the UK. Of the French, Germans, Americans and Hungarians I work closely with, most slag off their own country and only see the good about the UK. Of course there are a couple who are here for the short term, but most love it here and want to stay, most think everything is "far better" here.

In fact I spent a short time today talking to one of my Hungarian mates who was slagging off (yet again) one of their Government offices. He tried to sort out his Hungarian driving license on their website and it failed, so he called up. The response was basically "and, what do you want us to do about it?".

 

 

I think we're too happy to slag our country off really, it isn't that bad!! Stop watching BBC news, stop reading the tabloids and life will be a lot more tolerable and relaxed!!

 

I don't disagree - what I really meant was by "Its a bit sh1t" is that people should not expect everything to work like clockwork, they should expect ****-ups and massive delays. My approach is I expect such things and therefore am not upset or surprised when they happen. And I stopped watching the BBC news a couple of years ago

 

I have Americans, Polish, Bulgarian working and living in my office, and they prefer it to their home countries, but they also exclaim surpsrise at the "little things" which make their lives irritating..

[derry]

Security brought in in the late seventies is probably the biggest scam of all time. Totally ineffective unless it's run by El Al. How many people have had their bags searched by idiots who find nothing in the first four compartments or don't go to the bottom of the bag and don't bother searching the rest? I've lost count of the number I've reamed out over not doing the search thoroughly after starting to search my bags. The looks on their colleagues faces is worth the extra few minutes wasted. Even better if you have to demonstrate that they have missed something at the end. I used to carry a hefty bag of small change in the bottom of my briefcase to pay the crew their exact expenses. It showed up on the scanner as a black lump but it was hardly ever picked up in a hand search.

 

11 year old flies to Rome on his own with no ticket or boarding card. I rest my case.

[alpine_saint]

So, so proud of my nation of birth, and the way it treats those willing to give their lives for its way of life....

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9846565.Troops_guarding_Olympics_sleep_in_a_car_park/

 

EDIT: Just read the last lines, the MoD is sending an ice-cream van around to them. Why didnt it say earlier, the conditions are therefore sumptuous and we should just STFU...

Edited 31 July, 2012 by alpine_saint

[ecuk268]

So, so proud of my nation of birth, and the way it treats those willing to give their lives for its way of life....

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9846565.Troops_guarding_Olympics_sleep_in_a_car_park/

 

EDIT: Just read the last lines, the MoD is sending an ice-cream van around to them. Why didnt it say earlier, the conditions are therefore sumptuous and we should just STFU...

 

T'was ever thus.

 

The bigwigs get wined and dined at Buck House and people who actually do the work get shat upon.

[Micky]

So, so proud of my nation of birth, and the way it treats those willing to give their lives for its way of life....

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9846565.Troops_guarding_Olympics_sleep_in_a_car_park/

 

EDIT: Just read the last lines, the MoD is sending an ice-cream van around to them. Why didnt it say earlier, the conditions are therefore sumptuous and we should just STFU...

 

This really is so, so sad. Anybody who has any clout, responsibility or organisational power on the Olympic Committee should hang their heads in shame.

 

The problem is though, what is even sadder still, is that I am in no way surprised about this news.

 

Disgrace, absolute ****ing disgrace.

[alpine_saint]

Just imagine, there is probably a certain corporal with a VC and a history of fighting in hell down in that dank car park.

[hypochondriac]

Just imagine, there is probably a certain corporal with a VC and a history of fighting in hell down in that dank car park.

 

Probably feels luxurious by comparison then.

[alpine_saint]

Probably feels luxurious by comparison then.

 

Oh, thats alright then...

[Viking Warrior]

The echo is a bit ****e in their reporting par for the course.

 

Squaddies dont mind that sort of think we are used to it. There will be electricity provided , so thats a load of ********.

as well. The guys will be well fed etc, It wiull be the boredom hanging about that will be the problem.

[Viking Warrior]

Dosent looked cramped at all more crap from the echo

[Viking Warrior]

I have read the whole article what planet are some on.

 

 

But dad Simon Lynch- Garbett, 56, from Tenerife whose son James, 28, is staying in the Tower Bridge area with the regiment. says handing out a few free tickets does not make up for the way they have been treated.

 

He said: “They don’t even have access to electricity.

 

“They’ve spent months out there fighting for our country and this is the way they’re being treated. I understand they have got them some tickets – but that’s only because the seats are empty.”

 

Margaret Powell, 67, from Hill Head, who knows several of her son’s friends are staying in London with the Tigers during the Olympics , added: “They come back from Afghanistan and then they’re treated like second class citizens – prisoners are treated better.”

 

 

They are not being treated like second class citzens etc. A totally biased bit of reportng by the echo.

 

As for the no electricity/ Underground car parks do have electricty and it doesnt take much to run a spur from a generator or other.

[alpine_saint]

Most of these lads should be on leave, up to their nuts in their girlfriends or wives, at home or in holiday hotels, with decent bedding, prior to yet another sh*tty tour of duty. Not in a dank fume-filled car park.

 

Forgive me if I dont share your "its expected of us" shoulder-shrugging. If they dont get proper recovery between tours, more are going to come home in coffins or in metaphorical straight-jackets.

 

And meanwhile, Accountant Hammond carries on with his greasing up the Tory pole to the top by treating them as purely headcounts and costs per head..

[Viking Warrior]

You have not got a clue alpine

[Thedelldays]

G4S are a running joke with those that are working at the olympic park.

 

Many of their staff struggle with basic English. Many just use their time to chat up women and nearly all do next to fuk all.

[Saintandy666]

G4S are a running joke with those that are working at the olympic park.

 

Many of their staff struggle with basic English. Many just use their time to chat up women and nearly all do next to fuk all.

 

G4S are a joke. A couple of years back at Wimbledon, one of their guards offered to fight someone once his shift had ended. And then only a few weeks back at Amsterdam Airport(which has security just before the flights), after one of them said to put our boarding passes through the security scanner, they got lost and they really didn't give a **** just shrugging shoulders telling us to get another one when our flight took off in twenty minutes and with it being with easyjet they don't take lightly to that kind of thing. They were found in the end, but I won't forget the attitude of the guards.

 

Don't get me wrong though, I am sure there are loads of great security staff with G4S, but from my personal experience they do seem to lack consistency with recruits. I could be wrong though and just gone through a couple of bad examples.

[Micky]

With all due respect VW the boys and girls deserve much better on this occasion. Yeah they can rough it with the best of them, I've slept in some pretty crap dank and dingy places in my time - but generally when exercising or on operations.

 

This is the single biggest sporting event in the world - there are literally thousands of people working to make it happen. I bet not a single civilian is sleeping in a car park - not one. If anything this was a chance to actually reward the Forces personnel for their efforts in Operational Theatres by making this a bit of a 'jolly' for them - but no - we failed there too.

 

Yeah they can hack it, and they will - but given the money and luxuries being meted out to the rest of the organisational staff - this is embarrassing. Our country really doesn't deserve our Armed Forces.

[alpine_saint]

You have not got a clue alpine

 

What does that stupid patronising comment mean ?

 

I am talking about basic humanity towards the people that keep the UK safe. You seem to want to just d*ck-wave about how hard you all are.

[alpine_saint]

You have not got a clue alpine

 

What does that stupid patronising comment mean ?

 

I am talking about basic humanity towards the people that keep the UK safe. You seem to want to just d*ck-wave about how hard you all are.

[alpine_saint]

With all due respect VW the boys and girls deserve much better on this occasion. Yeah they can rough it with the best of them, I've slept in some pretty crap dank and dingy places in my time - but generally when exercising or on operations.

 

This is the single biggest sporting event in the world - there are literally thousands of people working to make it happen. I bet not a single civilian is sleeping in a car park - not one. If anything this was a chance to actually reward the Forces personnel for their efforts in Operational Theatres by making this a bit of a 'jolly' for them - but no - we failed there too.

 

Yeah they can hack it, and they will - but given the money and luxuries being meted out to the rest of the organisational staff - this is embarrassing. Our country really doesn't deserve our Armed Forces.

 

Thanks for putting it more eloquently than I did.

 

Anyway, let VW and TDD keep on flexing their biceps.......

[alpine_saint]

With all due respect VW the boys and girls deserve much better on this occasion. Yeah they can rough it with the best of them, I've slept in some pretty crap dank and dingy places in my time - but generally when exercising or on operations.

 

This is the single biggest sporting event in the world - there are literally thousands of people working to make it happen. I bet not a single civilian is sleeping in a car park - not one. If anything this was a chance to actually reward the Forces personnel for their efforts in Operational Theatres by making this a bit of a 'jolly' for them - but no - we failed there too.

 

Yeah they can hack it, and they will - but given the money and luxuries being meted out to the rest of the organisational staff - this is embarrassing. Our country really doesn't deserve our Armed Forces.

 

Thanks for putting it more eloquently than I did.

 

Anyway, let VW and TDD keep on flexing their biceps.......

[JackFrost]

The security was very tight when I went to see the badminton yesterday. Similar process you get at airports and whilst thorough it was very efficient.

 

After going round the shops we all went along to this free concert in Hyde Park afterwards and the security was hopeless. Even though they had metal detectors it was evident the staff hadn't been trained properly and a friend of mine smuggled a stanley knife in with ease. (He'd only bought it a couple of hours previously, before we heard about the concert)

[JackFrost]

The security was very tight when I went to see the badminton yesterday. Similar process you get at airports and whilst thorough it was very efficient.

 

After going round the shops we all went along to this free concert in Hyde Park afterwards and the security was hopeless. Even though they had metal detectors it was evident the staff hadn't been trained properly and a friend of mine smuggled a stanley knife in with ease. (He'd only bought it a couple of hours previously, before we heard about the concert)

[Viking Warrior]

wasnt a patronising comment at all Alps. just being honest, you have not got a clue.

 

Mickey. I know where you are coming from , yes the corporate types are put up in posh hotels etc. that is obscene.

 

It will only be few forces folk that are in an underground car Park . Looks a bit like earls court. have slept there in the past

when doing royal tournament duties. many servicement will be housed in barracks in and around london.

 

 

back to Alps. You have never served as you admitted previously hence my comment you do not have a clue. you shouldnt believe everything you read in the press.

[hypochondriac]

Oh, thats alright then...

 

Would like to hear from them and how outraged they are first before getting angry on their behalf.

[alpine_saint]

wasnt a patronising comment at all Alps. just being honest, you have not got a clue.

 

Mickey. I know where you are coming from , yes the corporate types are put up in posh hotels etc. that is obscene.

 

It will only be few forces folk that are in an underground car Park . Looks a bit like earls court. have slept there in the past

when doing royal tournament duties. many servicement will be housed in barracks in and around london.

 

 

back to Alps. You have never served as you admitted previously hence my comment you do not have a clue. you shouldnt believe everything you read in the press.

 

You really dont get it, do you.

 

I couldnt give a sh*t that you hard men who put on the stiff upper lip and say "God Save the Queen" as you jump over the top of the trenches see this as quality accommodation compared to some rat-infested sh*t holes you have stayed in, and therefore dont see the need to moan. This isnt a f**king test of your toughness or virility, and I dont see why you are turning it into that.

 

These men should either be at home with their families of training for their next difficult tour in order to increase their chances of surviving, not bailing out a greedy, lazy, money grabbing company, engaged by an incompetent organisation committee and government, fleecing the tax-payer for a woeful service. Therefore the very least the nation (government) could have done is ensure they have accommodation of a standard with what they would have had if their leave wasnt cancelled.

 

You can bang out "you havent got a clue Alpine" as much as you want, but you are completely missing the point. But hey, I am tired of this metaphorical flexing of your biceps, so you carry on dismissing my sentiments that the nation is sh*tting big time on our Armed Forces and turning a blind eye to the fact that loads of quotable sources have indicated morale in the Forces has been plummetting for years.

 

Obviously not everyone serving is as tough and hard as you and the Pillsbury Dough-Boy.

Edited 2 August, 2012 by alpine_saint

[alpine_saint]

Would like to hear from them and how outraged they are first before getting angry on their behalf.

 

Thats entirely your perogative.

 

However, I suggest to you that if VW is any example, they clearly see it as a challenge to their manhood if they are caught complaining, so dont hold your breath.

 

Me on the other hand, expect the Forces to put up with sh*tty conditions and get on with their work when they need to and it is unavoidable, such as being in a war zone.

 

However, the London 2012 Olympiad XXX does not qualify as a war zone or as sh*tty conditions, so I fail to understand why 1 PWRR and other units are being subjected to such conditions.

[Thedelldays]

Thats entirely your perogative.

 

However, I suggest to you that if VW is any example, they clearly see it as a challenge to their manhood if they are caught complaining, so dont hold your breath.

 

Me on the other hand, expect the Forces to put up with sh*tty conditions and get on with their work when they need to and it is unavoidable, such as being in a war zone.

 

However, the London 2012 Olympiad XXX does not qualify as a war zone or as sh*tty conditions, so I fail to understand why 1 PWRR and other units are being subjected to such conditions.

stop being so outraged all the time

[alpine_saint]

stop being so outraged all the time

 

I am overcompensating for the lack of support and recognition you guys have got from the past 2 governments.

[doubleonothing]

Soldiers I spoke to yesterday said it wasn't as bad as the media make out. Told me they'd rather be doing this than sleeping under a bag on Salisbury Plain.

[Viking Warrior]

You have still not got a clue Alpine. and Im not flexing my muscles etc etc as you elequently put it.

Troops have had to put up with various conditions whether it is helping out with floods in the UK , foot and mouth, various strikes.

 

Normally we are either tented, in barracks or put up in a TA centre when the Fire strkes and Ambulance strikes took place., It wasn't glammerous accomadation but we didnt complain. In fact your the only one that appears to have a negative attitude and you have never served

 

I have lived in a tent immunising 25 thousands people who lived in squalid accomodation due to a cholera epidemic. two of did te immunisations, but we got on with the job.

 

I dont hear you moaning about those servicement and women who do wimbledon.

 

Instead of whinging on here go and talk to the squaddies who are doing the security stuff at the olympics and get there opinion.

I bet most will be happy to doing it instead of sitting in some foxhole in the brecon becons or sat twiddling their thumbs back in barracks

 

As I said before Alpine in respect of this thread you still do not have a clue.

Edited 2 August, 2012 by Viking Warrior

[Viking Warrior]

Well said Doubleonothing you beat me to the comment about sleeping on salisbury plain

[alpine_saint]

You have still not got a clue Alpine. and Im not flexing my muscles etc etc as you elequently put it.

Troops have had to put up with various conditions whether it is helping out with floods in the UK , foot and mouth, various strikes.

 

Normally we are either tented, in barracks or put up in a TA centre when the Fire strkes and Ambulance strikes took place., It wasn't glammerous accomadation but we didnt complain. In fact your the only one that appears to have a negative attitude and you have never served

 

I have lived in a tent immunising 25 thousands people who lived in squalid accomodation due to a cholera epidemic. two of did te immunisations, but we got on with the job.

 

I dont hear you moaning about those servicement and women who do wimbledon.

 

Instead of whinging on here go and talk to the squaddies who are doing the security stuff at the olympics and get there opinion.

I bet most will be happy to doing it instead of sitting in some foxhole in the brecon becons or sat twiddling their thumbs back in barracks

 

As I said before Alpine in respect of this thread you still do not have a clue.

 

This is pointless. I patiently explain my reasoning, and you patronisingly answer (repeatedly) with "you dont have a clue" because you are so hard, but like to show off the martyrdom.

 

Not much point in this continuing if you aint going to read properly and understand my point.

[Gingeletiss]

Those who have not served, really should not be having a say about this, as they seriously don't understand the military mentality. I had some great times in the sh1t1est conditions, as you were sharing them with lifelong mates.

[alpine_saint]

Those who have not served, really should not be having a say about this as they seriously don't understand the military mentality. I had some great times in the sh1t1est conditions, as you were sharing them with lifelong mates.

 

What a load of self-serving, self-important patronising crap.

 

The same crap as saying unless you were at a Saints game you are not entitled to react to the result or performance.

[Minty]

The same crap as saying unless you were at a Saints game you are not entitled to react to the result or performance.

 

Of course you can comment, but there is no doubt that unless you've experienced the things being talked about, observed them first hand, then you cannot understand it to the same degree and should have some respect for those who have.

 

I don't think VW makes his points particularly well at times, but I respect that fact that he HAS been there and done it. I don't see him as acting 'hard' or any kind of 'martyrdom', just relaying what his own experiences are.

[alpine_saint]

Of course you can comment, but there is no doubt that unless you've experienced the things being talked about, observed them first hand, then you cannot understand it to the same degree and should have some respect for those who have.

 

I don't think VW makes his points particularly well at times, but I respect that fact that he HAS been there and done it. I don't see him as acting 'hard' or any kind of 'martyrdom', just relaying what his own experiences are.

 

I respect all servicemen and women for what they have endured. Yes, I know they take the Queens Shilling and its expected of them, but they are all still heroes.

 

Nevertheless, I reserve the right to comment on issues of Defence as I see them. I have been highly critical of procurement and politics behind it, and I simply think that the Government has let our lads and lasses down badly this summer. The minutae and comparative mertis of this accommodation against other deployments are utterly irrelevant, so I dont know why VW has been banging on in this vein for so long.

 

Yes, I know they've had it tougher, but that is not the point at all. And I fail to see why serving or not has an influence on this standpoint.

 

I dont know the details of 1 PWRRs next deployment, but I guess it will be to Afghanistan. Some of them wont be coming back, sadly. They should have spent the summer with their families or training to sharpen skills. Not bailing out Olympics ineptitude.

[Thedelldays]

I was at the olympics 2 days ago as my mate is working security....none are really that bothered about the conditions really and as a bonus, they are able to get into some of the venues for free if there are empty seats...

 

I got into the basketball and sat right behind the GB bench and could be seen easily on BBC most of the match...those seats would have cost an absolute fortune. also, got into the swimming and saw Phelps win that medal....again for nothing.

 

so be careful in your outrage for others when they don't have it bad as it first seemed

 

as for 1PWRR. I actually spoke to some of them the other day and they were loving it. some of the forces lads have been pulling (or trying most of the time) some of the female athletes lol and are meeting all the celebrities etc...

 

just this very morning, my mate posted on Facebook a picture of them having coffee with kevin Spacey

[alpine_saint]

I was at the olympics 2 days ago as my mate is working security....none are really that bothered about the conditions really and as a bonus, they are able to get into some of the venues for free if there are empty seats...

 

I got into the basketball and sat right behind the GB bench and could be seen easily on BBC most of the match...those seats would have cost an absolute fortune. also, got into the swimming and saw Phelps win that medal....again for nothing.

 

so be careful in your outrage for others when they don't have it bad as it first seemed

 

as for 1PWRR. I actually spoke to some of them the other day and they were loving it. some of the forces lads have been pulling (or trying most of the time) some of the female athletes lol and are meeting all the celebrities etc...

 

just this very morning, my mate posted on Facebook a picture of them having coffee with kevin Spacey

 

OK, so what you are saying is that it is a complete doss, and they dont care about being dragged away from their families ?

[Thedelldays]

OK, so what you are saying is that it is a complete doss, and they dont care about being dragged away from their families ?

 

If you think I said that. Then yes, if not. Then you may have understood my

Point

[alpine_saint]

If you think I said that. Then yes, if not. Then you may have understood my

Point

 

Can you give a direct answer or not, troll ?

[Minty]

I think the direct answer would probably be rude and offensive, but I'll interpret:

 

It's not ideal, it's far from what anyone would like, but given the freebies attached and in comparison with various operational theatres around the world, it is far more preferable.

[alpine_saint]

I think the direct answer would probably be rude and offensive, but I'll interpret:

 

It's not ideal, it's far from what anyone would like, but given the freebies attached and in comparison with various operational theatres around the world, it is far more preferable.

 

Minty, with all due respect butt out.

 

I am getting a bit fed up with Horatio and Sgt. Rock lording it over us.

 

Just because a few youngsters with no committments from 1 PWRR might be having a party, it doesnt mean the whole Company thinks the same.

 

Why cant they discuss it without sneers and innuendo ?

[Thedelldays]

Can you give a direct answer or not, troll ?

 

Some, many would rather not be there. But they are. So what can you do. Moan like fuk everyday and show your outrage. Or get on with it. Take the ridiculously expensive freebees on offer and come home in around 2 weeks

 

The armed forces will cut from around 17,000 to 7000 when the Paralympics start.

And most of those who are staying on are indeed volunteers

 

Remember alpine, about 14000 of these are volunteers and were not stitched

 

I know they are all dreading Friday. The track and field starts and that is two sessions a day with 80k people each session. The headache is that this over laps by a day or two with the swimming which is the next most popular event and the aquatic centre is next to the main stadium

Edited 2 August, 2012 by Thedelldays

[doubleonothing]

No one is saying it is a doss Alps. What the troops are saying it is not as bad as the media it making out to be. They are working hard. Having been to the Olympic park I have seen them in action. They are conducting bag searches, operating x-ray machines and "metal arches" a task that can be mind numbing, yet you have to pay attention to everything coming through.

 

Yet whatever job they are doing, they are doing it with a smile. They are doing it politely. They are posing for pictures with kids. They are giving a damn good account of themselves and the country.

 

So if the perks for them involve trying to fire into a female athlete, or have coffee with Kevin Spacey, or watch events, I say good for them. They deserve it.

 

And when the troops themselves say the conditions aren't as bad as they are being made out. I believe them. When they say they would rather be there. They are enjoying it. Yes there are bound to be one or two who aren't enjoying it, but from what I have seen they majority are enjoying it and don't mind the conditions.

 

So give it a rest eh Alps? It seems that you and the Daily Mail readership are the ones bothered about it from afar, and the ones involved in it aren't as concerned as you are.

[Minty]

Minty, with all due respect butt out.

lol, no thanks. I think you need to lighten up a bit.

 

I am getting a bit fed up with Horatio and Sgt. Rock lording it over us.

 

Just because a few youngsters with no committments from 1 PWRR might be having a party, it doesnt mean the whole Company thinks the same.

Well I'd be happy to hear from some of them so we have something specific to go on, but in the absence of that, a direct testimony from someone that thedelldays (your puerile names for them don't do your cause much good) knows is good enough for me. These are, after all, young men and women who will quite rightly look to make the most of any opportunity that comes their way, especially as they could well be back on the front line soon.

 

You clearly think their conditions are not good enough. I would generally agree, it's far from ideal, but it does seem as though the situation has been overhyped a bit.

[Minty]

No one is saying it is a doss Alps. What the troops are saying it is not as bad as the media it making out to be. They are working hard. Having been to the Olympic park I have seen them in action. They are conducting bag searches, operating x-ray machines and "metal arches" a task that can be mind numbing, yet you have to pay attention to everything coming through.

 

Yet whatever job they are doing, they are doing it with a smile. They are doing it politely. They are posing for pictures with kids. They are giving a damn good account of themselves and the country.

 

So if the perks for them involve trying to fire into a female athlete, or have coffee with Kevin Spacey, or watch events, I say good for them. They deserve it.

 

And when the troops themselves say the conditions aren't as bad as they are being made out. I believe them. When they say they would rather be there. They are enjoying it. Yes there are bound to be one or two who aren't enjoying it, but from what I have seen they majority are enjoying it and don't mind the conditions.

 

So give it a rest eh Alps? It seems that you and the Daily Mail readership are the ones bothered about it from afar, and the ones involved in it aren't as concerned as you are.

 

Good post from someone else with first hand experience of what is actually happening up there.

[Special K]

G4S are a joke. A couple of years back at Wimbledon, one of their guards offered to fight someone once his shift had ended. And then only a few weeks back at Amsterdam Airport(which has security just before the flights), after one of them said to put our boarding passes through the security scanner, they got lost and they really didn't give a **** just shrugging shoulders telling us to get another one when our flight took off in twenty minutes and with it being with easyjet they don't take lightly to that kind of thing. They were found in the end, but I won't forget the attitude of the guards.

 

Don't get me wrong though, I am sure there are loads of great security staff with G4S, but from my personal experience they do seem to lack consistency with recruits. I could be wrong though and just gone through a couple of bad examples.

 

I bet virtually all of them are ****s.

[Thedelldays]

, but it does seem as though the situation has been overhyped a bit.

 

it is. From what I have been told

Yes, when thousands of servicemen need to be housed in London it is going to be a pain for a few days

 

Remember, this is the biggest logistical operation in the UK since world war 2 and never seen before in peace time

 

This is the biggest Olympics I. History and it is running without a hitch compared to the enormous scale of it

[alpine_saint]

OK, OK, I will tone it down.

 

I still fret over the guys that have got to go back to Afghanistan, who may in a few cases be losing their last chance (or at least part of) to spend time with their families.

 

Growing up without a father is no joke.

 

What would interest me greatly, now TDD has answered with some decent facts, is that considering 14000 forces personnel are "volunteers" and 2500 are "drafted", what are the relative berthing conditions ? The 14000 should have been planned for, and therefore have better conditions. The 2500 werent planned for, and should have a legitimate gripe, imo. Lets not forget TDD himself posted photos of Forces personnel sleeping on rows of seats last week.

 

My beef is not with our Forces personnel, in any way. They are heroes. Its with the politicians who keep committing them to things with inadequate support whilst writing them redundancy letters. They are tossers.