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Telegraph keys, trailing wire aerials and tower lights were the bees knees in Nev's pioneering years.

I got my own plane bogged in soft sand once and it didn’t take much to stop it, but C130’s are designed for rough strips and have a lot more power and much bigger wheels and more of them than my aircraft. Getting two of them bogged and unable to move just seems suspect. I believe they flew Dash 8’s in to get everyone out so the strip couldn’t have been too bad.

The ‘technical malfunctions’ probably refer to the Iranians having blown the wings off.

Did they really get a C130 so bogged they couldn’t take off again and then had to fly in other aircraft to get everyone out? Sounds a bit chaotic. Surely the pilots would have seen and avoided soft sand and picked a better place to pull up. I assume they didn’t shut down the engines while they were there. I don’t think we’re necessarily getting the full story. Maybe the Iranians damaged them? No mention of any casualties either except for the rescued weapons officer.

You are paying them for the risk they take of you of being responsible for a costly accident. They don't owe you a refund if you never make a claim because the deal was that you pay and they accept your risk. You may not like the fact that it's a compulsory payment, but that's the deal. If you don't like it, just hand in your driver's licence.

GON, your argument about insurance is the equivalent of buying a pizza for your mate and then asking for your money back from the pizza shop after your mate's eaten it because he didn't give you any.

Have you thought about running yourself, GON?

The problem with Trump is that beyond quoting a slogan, he has no vision that he can articulate as to how to achieve what he allegedly wants for the country. On the other hand, it's very clear what he wants for himself - power, respect or fear (doesn't matter which), and money. His personality is that of a liar and cheat, and the energy and drive he has is all aimed at his own political survival and personal enrichment. As for Australia, if we had an outstanding and far-sighted politician who had a clear vision for improving the country and making it more self-sufficient that made sense to the voting population, he/she would likely be given a chance to implement their agenda.

Trump Derangement Syndrome or Trump Disaster Show?

It seems Charging for or threatening safe passage would amount to extortion: Under international law, Iran does not have unilateral legal control to close the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran and Oman share territorial waters within the strait, they are bound by the international law of transit passage, which guarantees innocent passage for ships and prevents arbitrary closure. Key Legal Constraints: UNCLOS Standards: The Strait of Hormuz is a "strait used for international navigation." The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows coastal nations (Iran and Oman) to pass rules for safety but not to stop or restrict transit. Transit Passage Rights: All ships and aircraft, including military vessels, have the right of "continuous and expeditious" passage that cannot be suspended by Iran. Customary International Law: Even though Iran is not a party to UNCLOS, the rules of transit passage are widely recognized as customary international law, binding on all nations. Limitations on Action: Iran can only legally act against vessels engaged in illegal activities or "hostile" maneuvers, but it cannot legally declare a total or selective blockade of the strait.

Spoil sport! Don't listen to him Willie. he's just jealous.

What are you going to do with it?

One US commentator noted that there was more strategy in the plot of Top Gun Maverick about a US attack on a uranium enrichment plant located in a deep, heavily defended bunker in a mountainous terrain in a nameless `rogue state' (meaning Iran), than there is in Trump's actual attack on Iran.

James E Thorne is the one who is misunderstanding Trump's lack of strategy as strategy.

Here's his latest announcement effectively claiming that God wrote the Second Amendment (and all the other Rights contained in the Constitution):

Jerry, I didn't say it was all about Netanyahu trying to stay in power and out of prison. I said `also'. We're not disagreeing here.

Just a matter of time before the two ladies are replaced by two robots.

Yes, it was also about Netanyahu trying to keep himself in power and out of prison.

Yes. I think he just read out the last four weeks of his midnight Truth Social rants.

It probably depends what you mean by `terrorist attacks'. I don't think the Israelis are terrorists but their relentless killing of the ordinary civilian population in Gaza and the property destruction they have carried out to make the place virtually uninhabitable borders on genocide. Netanyahu would certainly like to get rid of all the Palestinians, both in Gaza and the West Bank. Of course, most of Israel's neighbours would like to get rid of the Israelis too. Nevertheless, as far as Gaza is concerned, Israel's reprisals against the Palestinians for Hamas's October 7 attack have gone well beyond what Hamas did to them. Also, when it comes to carrying out targeted assassinations, the Israeli intelligence services are pretty ruthless and efficient.

And the stupidity and legal jeopardy of getting involved in an undeclared war that Trump is totally responsible for.

I thought you spent a lot of time entering into correspondence with various people in government about things you weren't happy with, so that can't be an issue for you. And aren't dictators single individuals by definition, not an elected governing party like we have.

The only solution I can see that might work for you is living alone on an island somewhere. That way you are in charge of everything and have nobody telling you what you can and can't do. No need to vote and no national service to worry about. Should be perfect if you pick a place with nice weather as well.

That was yesterday. He's moved on since then.

Nicely done: