Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Syt]

When push comes to shove, there's a lot of people who like cute animals better than foreign looking people.

[Sheilbh]

I saw someone note this is apparently something true for campaigns too. Environmental charities have discovered the way to get engagement in the U.K. is focus on bees and the risks to habitats, not humanity

Edit: Other examples of the power of the pro-animal friendly (but still eating supermarket chicken that's cheaper than anywhere this side of the Oder) lobby: there is a crime of "pet theft" which carries 7 year sentence. After a spate of dognapping during the pandemic a new crime of "pet abduction" has been established - they are substantially interchangeable.

Or, from Jim Waterson, the time Gavin Williamson was defence secretary and the Sun got him to pardon two Afghan war dogs that were too dangerous for civilians. But when it came to the photoshoot they had to use a very wide lens to disguise how he didn't want to go anywhere near the animals:

[Sheilbh]

Also if I was Defence Secretary I would resign the second the last plane leaves Kabul. I think it's probably irresponsible right now. But still...

[Syt]

Eh, take a page out of the Austrian playbook (they had some advisers in the country): not gonna take anyone in, and if it's against the European Convention of Human Rights to deport Afghans at the moment, then we have to find different ways. Also, we must prevent anyone from coming to Austria.

[Sheilbh]

Eh, take a page out of the Austrian playbook (they had some advisers in the country): not gonna take anyone in, and if it's against the European Convention of Human Rights to deport Afghans at the moment, then we have to find different ways. Also, we must prevent anyone from coming to Austria.

Oh there is also news here that while we are literally airlifting people out of Kabul, the Home Office have sent a letter to a refugee - who has been in detention for 8 months, moved to the UK as a child when he was 10 (19 years ago) and is an openly gay man - that his deportation to Afghanistan is now pending because the situation is now safe.

I hope that's just a case of Home Office incompetence (the decision was processed pre-Taliban taking over at some point in the last 8 months) but I wouldn't bet against it being the Home Office being actively evil. The whole department's broken.

[Syt]

Incompetence is one thing. Austrian interior minister said they would keep deporting people to "safe Afghanistan" as long as possible (not talking about criminals, even) while Taliban marched into Kabul.

The Greens who are in coalition with the ÖVP are weakly calling for allowing in refugees, but as usual the ÖVP get their way. ÖVP says Austria is already sending so much help (Austria is sending a fraction of what comparable countries like Sweden or Switzerland in foreign aid).

Now, Afghans have a reputation of being violent criminals here, though my estimation is that it's in good part because Austria has little in support for refugees (psychological and integration help). I imagine there's plenty refugees who would need psychological help and treatment to whom it is just not available.

[The Larch]

Absolutely furious about this animal sanctuary in Afghanistan. Apparently the PM has over-ruled the Defence Secretary and given clearance for the 200 animals and the assorted volunteers to be airlifted; from a Guardian reporter: "As one person who works for an MP said to me the other day: "We've had more emails demanding we save the Afghan dogs than emails demanding we save the Afghan people. It's very disconcerting.""

It's a shameful and morally indefensible decision. There's been a (successful) campaign to raise money to charter a plane. I did see one of the organisers noting that after they've rescued the animals there'd be space for 138 people - after the animals

Just nuke the country - at least it'll get Geronimo the alpaca and all these lunatics

I read it might have been Johnson's wife the one who convinced him to let the animals be evacuated, I think I saw the same Twitter thread. 

I'm seeing the news piece being spun as the animals wouldn't be taking space away from people as they'd leave in a plane the NGO have charted themselves through donations and the animals would go on the hold, with the people going in the passenger's space, as well as opening up the remaining 150+ spots in the plane to other UK evacuees (is that a word?), so maybe, maybe, it's not as terrible as it seems (don't know how they're handling private evacuations by chartered planes with the military ones). Then again, if they actually take 200 cats and dogs to the airport and they start loading them up in a plane I'd like to see the looks on the faces of people that are staying behind and might not be evacuated in time.

Also, if it's any consolation, it seems that American politicians are not helping out in the middle of the mess at Kabul airport:

Fury as US politicians fly into Kabul in midst of evacuation effort
Officials angry congressmen could be taking seats that could have gone to people fleeing the country

Two members of US Congress flew unannounced into Kabul airport in the middle of the chaotic evacuation, stunning State Department and military personnel who had to divert resources to provide security and information to the lawmakers, US officials have said.

Seth Moulton, the Democratic congressman for Massachusetts, and Peter Meijer, the Republican congressman for Michigan, flew in and out on charter aircraft and were on the ground at Kabul airport for several hours. That led officials to complain they could be taking seats that would have otherwise gone to other Americans or Afghans fleeing the country, but the congressmen said in a joint statement that they made sure they were leaving on a flight with empty seats.

"As members of Congress, we have a duty to provide oversight on the executive branch,"' the pair said in a statement. "We conducted this visit in secret, speaking about it only after our departure, to minimise the risk and disruption to the people on the ground, and because we were there to gather information, not to grandstand."

The two lawmakers are both military veterans, with backgrounds in the region. Moulton, a Marine who has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, served multiple tours in Iraq. Meijer was deployed as part of the army reserves and later worked in Afghanistan at a nongovernmental organisation providing aid. Both serve on the House armed services committee.

Three officials familiar with the flight said that State Department, Defense Department and White House officials were furious about the incident because it was done without coordination with diplomats or military commanders directing the evacuation.

The US military found out about the visit as the legislators' aircraft on its way to Kabul, according to the officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

One senior US official said the administration regarded the lawmakers' visit as manifestly unhelpful, while other officials said the visit was viewed as a distraction for troops and commanders at the airport who are waging a race against time to evacuate thousands of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others as quickly as possible.

The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, issued a statement on Tuesday evening taking note of the desire of some legislators to visit Afghanistan and saying she was writing to "reiterate that the Departments of Defense and State have requested that members not travel to Afghanistan and the region during this time of danger".

She added: "Ensuring the safe and timely evacuation of individuals at risk requires the full focus and attention of the US military and diplomatic teams on the ground in Afghanistan."

The Pentagon has repeatedly expressed concerns about security threats in Kabul, including by the Islamic State group. When members of Congress have routinely gone to war zones over the past two decades, their visits have been typically long planned and coordinated with officials on the ground in order to ensure their safety.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he was sticking to his 31 August deadline for completing the risky airlift as people flee Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The two congressmen said they went into their visit wanting "to push the president to extend the August 31st deadline. After talking with commanders on the ground and seeing the situation here, it is obvious that because we started the evacuation so late, that no matter what we do, we won't get everyone out on time, even by September 11."

[Sheilbh]

I read it might have been Johnson's wife the one who convinced him to let the animals be evacuated, I think I saw the same Twitter thread. 

I'm seeing the news piece being spun as the animals wouldn't be taking space away from people as they'd leave in a plane the NGO have charted themselves through donations and the animals would go on the hold, with the people going in the passenger's space, as well as opening up the remaining 150+ spots in the plane to other UK evacuees (is that a word?), so maybe, maybe, it's not as terrible as it seems (don't know how they're handling private evacuations by chartered planes with the military ones). Then again, if they actually take 200 cats and dogs to the airport and they start loading them up in a plane I'd like to see the looks on the faces of people that are staying behind and might not be evacuated in time.

Exactly - although I am always a little dubious about the stuff about Johnson's wife. I think briefing that it's actually the PM's wife making decisions can often be a little bit sexist in a Lady Macbethy way (it was a thing with Sam Cameron and Cherie Blair off the top of my head) - and possibly unfounded. But this seems to be briefed by Number 10 as a positive so who knows.

And yeah I'm not sure what the mix or deal is with private chartered planes - it feels like they shouldn't be a priority at all but they are probably essential. But even aside from that there's still 30k UN staff apparently, plus Afghans with Australian or Dutch visas who apparently have no way out because those countries aren't still airlifting so I can see a role for private chartered planes to get those types of groups out and deal with it later.

Evacuee is definitely a word - though I only really associate it with WW2 evacuees (kids who were evacuated from big cities into the countryside during the blitz). It's one of those things everyone learns about at primary school - because it's really easy to identify with children.

[Josquius]

It is notable that when you look  at the comments section on facebook the shoutiest most racist shitbags will half of the time have a dog for their profile picture.
Its a strange disconnect really. Maybe being sentimental about animals helps them to see themselves as the good guys- they'll also claim to oppose halal on animal rights grounds (no mention of the far worse kosher of course).
I do think punishments for crimes against pets need ramping up severely. It shouldn't be treat as little more than crimes against property.

On this Afghan animal charity...yeah. Fucked up they're getting the nod over people. Though that they are being helped is a good thing.

[Valmy]

(no mention of the far worse kosher of course).

Really? You are upset there is insufficient hatred of Jews among racist shitbags in the world? When are people finally going to stop this hypocrisy and start hating Jews!!!???

I thought you were going to say something about industrialized meat production or something.

[Valmy]

I saw someone note this is apparently something true for campaigns too. Environmental charities have discovered the way to get engagement in the U.K. is focus on bees and the risks to habitats, not humanity

The threat to animals, especially ones that are large enough for people to care about and notice, is far more critical so hey whatever works.

[Jacob]

Its a strange disconnect really. Maybe being sentimental about animals helps them to see themselves as the good guys- they'll also claim to oppose halal on animal rights grounds (no mention of the far worse kosher of course).

Don't worry, they'll lean into anti-kosher the moment they think it's safe to do so.

[Josquius]

(no mention of the far worse kosher of course).

Really? You are upset there is insufficient hatred of Jews among racist shitbags in the world? When are people finally going to stop this hypocrisy and start hating Jews!!!???

I thought you were going to say something about industrialized meat production or something.

Really they should be hating nobody.
But that they are protesting halal but not kosher highlights that its not actually animal rights that they're concerned about so much as having a stick to beat muslims with.

[The Larch]

Exactly - although I am always a little dubious about the stuff about Johnson's wife. I think briefing that it's actually the PM's wife making decisions can often be a little bit sexist in a Lady Macbethy way (it was a thing with Sam Cameron and Cherie Blair off the top of my head) - and possibly unfounded. But this seems to be briefed by Number 10 as a positive so who knows.

It's also a little evil step mom-ish, or like Livia being blamed for all the intrigue in "I, Claudius". The shadowy woman behind the man in power being the one really in control is quite an stereotype. 

[Duque de Bragança]

When push comes to shove, there's a lot of people who like cute animals better than people.

Fixed!