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Drone wars: Vladimir Putin's new unmanned air unit is larger than the entire British Army https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15537095/Drone-wars-Vladimir-Putin-larger-British-Army.html?ito=social-facebook

Yeah Many of those Film are pretty childish by todays standards. Some of the Music is good. I think it was by Paul Barry. Nev

The Sandstone could be re used. Any wood would likely be Useless. They are not suitable for any Practical purpose. Nev

I don't really think the plan is to bulldoze heritage properties. I spent 12 years in the RAAF as a musician. We would travel extensively and visit most of these facilities. Many of these buildings, I think, would not be fit for purpose. It is more difficult these days to justify holding onto many of these properties. Some of these properties could be considered poor value for money from the point of view of the taxpayer. As an example that I have in the past had first-hand knowledge of, I would cite RAAF Glenbrook. This is the headquarters of Air Command. This property was a Luxury hotel until I think 1949. When I was in the band, we used to go there (from Richmond) to perform a few times a month for Officer dining in nights and garden parties, etc. It was more of a country club for elite officers, in my opinion. In the Google Earth picture, you see the swimming pool, tennis courts, manicured gardens, etc. The main building (formerly a luxury hotel) is amazingly decadent inside. This facility always seemed to me more of a "country club" I think it is entirely reasonable to question whether this is the best use of the taxpayers' money. The building is protected by a heritage listing and should be preserved and perhaps given a use beyond a small number of elite officers. There is nothing critical about this location in terms of defence. In my opinion, selling off many of these assets is a good idea AS LONG as historic and heritage buildings and sites are preserved. Public access to these historic locations must be assured. It should also be done slowly and carefully. I think people are jumping to conclusions and believing that this means bulldozing historic buildings to build brick veneer houses.

Roger Moore (sounds like a porn star name) was the least "action hero" type of any Bond. I think the best was the last, Daniel Craig. Some of the fight scenes, especially in the first of his, were excellent.

Some anti fascist people are already working to identify and make public the identity of ICE officers, especially those proven to have used excessive force. It's exactly like the nazi brown shirts. You shouldn't expect to remain anonymous while following unlawful and inhumane orders.

True but Sean Connery looked the part, not Roger Moore.

He did leave a lasting legacy with some great music. Sad about the inspiration for some of it.

THEY will Probably have to Flee the USA when this is Over. Nev

Source: WION ICE is offering up to $50K signing bonuses as well as loan forgiveness in an effort to hire 10,000 more officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem exhorted applicants, saying that their skills, experience, and courage have never been more essential, and they will help defend the homeland. In a bid to ramp up hiring, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is offering signing bonuses of up to $50,000 (£37,700) and student loan help to “brave and heroic” Americans keen to help the Trump administration’s deportation drive. The agency is aiming to recruit deportation officers, along with attorneys, criminal investigators, student visa adjudicators, and other roles. ICE plans to add 10,000 personnel, doubling the agency’s headcount as it ramps up deportations across the country. ICE has launched a recruitment campaign as the government plans a major expansion of immigration enforcement after a recent infusion of money from Congress and is promising up to $50,000 in signing bonuses. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement campaign recalls recruiting posters from World War II with images of Uncle Sam and the words “AMERICA NEEDS YOU.” There also are photos of Trump and top homeland security officials with the words “DEFEND THE HOMELAND” across the images. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a release, “Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.” The funding for the recruitment drive comes from approximately $165 billion allocated for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill. In addition to the signing bonus and student loan repayment and forgiveness of up to $60,000, ICE is promising hefty overtime pay for deportation officers and “enhanced retirement benefits”. Deportation officers are tasked with helping apprehend and process undocumented migrants for removal from the US and get salaries between $49,739 and $89,528 per year, depending on experience and education. ICE currently has 20,000 officers and support personnel at 400 offices across the country.

I haven't heard of THAT one. Then they would have the BEST Voters Money can Buy. That would look a bit OBVIOUS and raise a few questions. What about the Inflation effect? Nev

For one thing, if He actually sends every USAnian a cheque for $2000 (as promised), a lot of voters might think he is doing a great job. They might momentarily overlook the price of eggs or petrol.

I Can't see how that would be easy in this case. Look to submarines, If you want to see Corruption, AND MANUS Island. Nev

The big problem is, that Govt assets are nearly always sold at below market prices to "mates in the know", who promptly turn them over for a massive profit. And the Govt then takes the money they got from the assets and pisses it up against the wall on vastly overpriced, often under-utilised, and generally vastly problematic, Defence purchases. Just look at the exorbitant and ever-increasing pricing of the MD F-35 fighter as an example. I employed a young Scottish bloke many years ago, who had worked for Marconi in the U.K. He said the rip-off profits staggered him when he sighted the figures. Marconi were supplying radar and navigation aids to the IAF in the late '60's, and he said, typically, a small electrical component that cost Marconi something like £14, was billed out to the IAF at a figure around £1,000!

Not much difference in the look. Nev

Who is really going to bother to Look at or USE them? They WON"T be sold cheap or for Private and Untaxed profit . it would go into Consolidated Revenue and would certainly be closely documented and scrutinised and Maybe pay off DEBT. which this gov't has already DONE a lot of. . Nev

Keep the beautiful heritage sites for public use not seel cheap and make billions for untaxed private profit . Start taxing properly and it would not be a problem.

It was the Aston Martin DB5. Don't worry the passenger will be nervous anyway.

IF you were Roger Moore you'd need a Bullet proof REAR WINDOW in your DB 4 too. Nev

SUPPOSE what you like. It's all case by case. I haven't thought of it. People above MY pay grade investigate these Matters. Inner City Rates and land values are out of this world. Plenty of Good buildings get Knocked down. Major Cities are Overcapitalised and that will Keep Happening. Nev

So I suppose you would support the selling off of the Shrine.

I dream of Genie. Nev

Right. It's George W Bush.

You STILL Have to Maintain the OLD Buildings that have no real use in a modern context. Not insulated, windows too small, No lifts or air conditioning, Need rewiring and repairs and cleaning. Nev

Can I suggest a way that satisfies both sides. The properties with architectural merit are sold at market value for redevelopment as housing, with conditions covering the retaining of appropriate features, and also that 10 or 20% of resulting flats are sold as affordable housing.