Thursday, March 24, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
The Englishman
Chin up, head down
At 19, Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher was one of the youngest victims of the Afghan war. These letters - given to The Independent by his family - reveal the excitement of a teenager sent to fulfil his dream, and his maturity in confronting the possibility that he might not make it home.
In the spring of 2009, the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles deployed to Afghanistan. Halfway through the battalion's tour, it has lost nine soldiers, with dozens injured.
Of those to have given their lives, four were teenagers. Here Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, who was 19 when he was killed by an explosion near Gereshk seven weeks ago, tells his own story, through letters home and the last letter he left behind to bid farewell to his family – his mother Helena, father Robin and brothers Zac, 21, and Steely, 17.
Following are the words of a proud soldier described by his officers as possessing "a rucksack full of potential", and by his friends as a rascal always cracking jokes and helping to keep morale high. Most of all, they are the words of a young son to his mum, dad and brothers.
Terri Judd
'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...'
27 April 2009
Hello Mum
I've just got your bluey [letter] (the 1st one) yea you are right it does get fucking hot, I can't work out wether I'm tanned or just burnt to fuck!! I've spoke to you on the phone so you no what I've been doing. I'm well proud of you loosing all that weight. Suppose you've got a pretty good insentive. We'v had the same shit maybe a month now. Everyday a Monday out here. You kind of loose track of days. I cant quite work out if its going fast or slow. This pen is shit its doing my head in!!
Iv been thinking of loads of things and places to do, go and see. Me and Elliott are gonna go to Amsterdam after this. THINK WE MAY HAVE DESERVED IT!! It should be a good day (November 5th) [their homecoming parade]. On the 6th we can go Belfast Iv'e got loads of sad things I wanna buy ie Sky+ Big TV. Get the old man to help me rearange my room and help me fix my shelves. Im not the DIY type normally resort to celler tape or blue tack. HA HA HA. Hope everyones safe at home. Complete detox out here – water no drink. So my dance moves might involve a bit of stumbling when I return! Im coming home 2 weeks earlier now so that's kinda good, it might be worth Zac picking me up give me a bit of chill out time so I don't try stab a gobby civvi plus he's a good listener, sumtimes I wonder if he's listening or thinking of sumthing completely irrelivant.
Well pass this round the family so they can all admire my extream spelling (infantry eh!). Lots of love to all the nearest and dearest. Love Ya!! Xxxx
1 May 2009
Hey Mum + family
Ill always address my letters to you cuz I no your probley the only one who gets to the mail!! You'll have to let me no how quick these are getting you ill keep writing the date?? Everything is good up this way getting hotter, still moving at a million miles per hour (HA HA HA) I think Iv'e stopped burning Im slowly going brown and my hair is getting ridiculous just wait till I come home ill look like a fucking wooky?! I was gonna write to granny + grandad but to be honest with the few spare hours I get Id'e rather write home ey? BTW send my regards to Daphne, Joan, Brian etc. Let em no how Im doing?
Every so often we get old people and churches send us little gifts like baby wipes, razors, sweets and stuff so its quite a good bit of moral. Got some really good photos ill have to bring my camera back so we can get that Kosovo collage on the go, to bring back on the 5th of November. If you saw what and where Ive been sleeping you would be shocked!! So pictures will back me up!
Unfortunately 3 blokes died 2 days ago in an IED explosion in one of the FOBs [Forward Operating Bases] bout 2 kilometers away – we visited that FOB 2 days before the attack – fucking mental quite scary actually! We'v had a rest day so Im doing a bit of hand washing and fitness! God you'd be so proud Ha! Ha! Ha! We've still had spam, rice, beans and unflavoured noodles every day – promise me actually I promise you if I see spam in the house ill fucking destroy it!! Im getting pretty good at making flat bread and we bout a goat of a local for 200 dollars and we slaughtered it. I got a good video. Its either catch it, kill it, or make it out here or else you go hungry LOL!! The showers are also freezing whilst Im on the subject of moaning?? Id'e best go again BUT ill keep writing when I get the time + ill be home in a couple of months. Love you'zzz all don't worry bout me to much. Theres only 3 things that kill people over hear BULLETS, BOMBS + EGOS so I might go down with a bad case of swollen head!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Love ya xxxxx
At 19, Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher was one of the youngest victims of the Afghan war. These letters - given to The Independent by his family - reveal the excitement of a teenager sent to fulfil his dream, and his maturity in confronting the possibility that he might not make it home.
In the spring of 2009, the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles deployed to Afghanistan. Halfway through the battalion's tour, it has lost nine soldiers, with dozens injured.
Of those to have given their lives, four were teenagers. Here Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, who was 19 when he was killed by an explosion near Gereshk seven weeks ago, tells his own story, through letters home and the last letter he left behind to bid farewell to his family – his mother Helena, father Robin and brothers Zac, 21, and Steely, 17.
Following are the words of a proud soldier described by his officers as possessing "a rucksack full of potential", and by his friends as a rascal always cracking jokes and helping to keep morale high. Most of all, they are the words of a young son to his mum, dad and brothers.
Terri Judd
'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...'
27 April 2009
Hello Mum
I've just got your bluey [letter] (the 1st one) yea you are right it does get fucking hot, I can't work out wether I'm tanned or just burnt to fuck!! I've spoke to you on the phone so you no what I've been doing. I'm well proud of you loosing all that weight. Suppose you've got a pretty good insentive. We'v had the same shit maybe a month now. Everyday a Monday out here. You kind of loose track of days. I cant quite work out if its going fast or slow. This pen is shit its doing my head in!!
Iv been thinking of loads of things and places to do, go and see. Me and Elliott are gonna go to Amsterdam after this. THINK WE MAY HAVE DESERVED IT!! It should be a good day (November 5th) [their homecoming parade]. On the 6th we can go Belfast Iv'e got loads of sad things I wanna buy ie Sky+ Big TV. Get the old man to help me rearange my room and help me fix my shelves. Im not the DIY type normally resort to celler tape or blue tack. HA HA HA. Hope everyones safe at home. Complete detox out here – water no drink. So my dance moves might involve a bit of stumbling when I return! Im coming home 2 weeks earlier now so that's kinda good, it might be worth Zac picking me up give me a bit of chill out time so I don't try stab a gobby civvi plus he's a good listener, sumtimes I wonder if he's listening or thinking of sumthing completely irrelivant.
Well pass this round the family so they can all admire my extream spelling (infantry eh!). Lots of love to all the nearest and dearest. Love Ya!! Xxxx
1 May 2009
Hey Mum + family
Ill always address my letters to you cuz I no your probley the only one who gets to the mail!! You'll have to let me no how quick these are getting you ill keep writing the date?? Everything is good up this way getting hotter, still moving at a million miles per hour (HA HA HA) I think Iv'e stopped burning Im slowly going brown and my hair is getting ridiculous just wait till I come home ill look like a fucking wooky?! I was gonna write to granny + grandad but to be honest with the few spare hours I get Id'e rather write home ey? BTW send my regards to Daphne, Joan, Brian etc. Let em no how Im doing?
Every so often we get old people and churches send us little gifts like baby wipes, razors, sweets and stuff so its quite a good bit of moral. Got some really good photos ill have to bring my camera back so we can get that Kosovo collage on the go, to bring back on the 5th of November. If you saw what and where Ive been sleeping you would be shocked!! So pictures will back me up!
Unfortunately 3 blokes died 2 days ago in an IED explosion in one of the FOBs [Forward Operating Bases] bout 2 kilometers away – we visited that FOB 2 days before the attack – fucking mental quite scary actually! We'v had a rest day so Im doing a bit of hand washing and fitness! God you'd be so proud Ha! Ha! Ha! We've still had spam, rice, beans and unflavoured noodles every day – promise me actually I promise you if I see spam in the house ill fucking destroy it!! Im getting pretty good at making flat bread and we bout a goat of a local for 200 dollars and we slaughtered it. I got a good video. Its either catch it, kill it, or make it out here or else you go hungry LOL!! The showers are also freezing whilst Im on the subject of moaning?? Id'e best go again BUT ill keep writing when I get the time + ill be home in a couple of months. Love you'zzz all don't worry bout me to much. Theres only 3 things that kill people over hear BULLETS, BOMBS + EGOS so I might go down with a bad case of swollen head!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Love ya xxxxx
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Barsick & Musya
Barsick is my he cat. He is a native Muscovite. He is 4 years old.
We saw together with Barsick a lot of things - the wicked persecutions of the KGB (FSB), the travel for political asylum to Georgia, the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel.
Barsick much flown by plane, traveled by train and underground, by cars and buses.
Musya is a cat of my sister. She is 12 years old. She is a homebody. All her life she spent at home, in the same flat. In summer she looks at outside world only through open window.
We saw together with Barsick a lot of things - the wicked persecutions of the KGB (FSB), the travel for political asylum to Georgia, the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel.
Barsick much flown by plane, traveled by train and underground, by cars and buses.
Musya is a cat of my sister. She is 12 years old. She is a homebody. All her life she spent at home, in the same flat. In summer she looks at outside world only through open window.
Day by day
Tuesday, February, 02, 2016
I've entered this morning in my sister room and seen the touching picture of Barsick and Musya sleeping serenely nearby on sofa.
Tuesday, October, 20, 2015
Dull weather. Russian autumn.
My he cat Barsick many times already watches the "BEST Video For Cats Ever!" as a blockbuster. It's really interesting - pretty squirrels, chipmunks, birds, butterflies, small coloured fishes, all kinds of games... Very interesting. Barsick empathizes what is happening on screen and tries to get the "actors" with his paw.
She cat Musya is sleeping somewhere. She didn't appear still and didn't eat today yet.
Behold Musya has appeared lastly. She has stretched, then sharpened her claws on upholstery of a chair and again disappeared.
I've entered this morning in my sister room and seen the touching picture of Barsick and Musya sleeping serenely nearby on sofa.
Tuesday, October, 20, 2015
Dull weather. Russian autumn.
My he cat Barsick many times already watches the "BEST Video For Cats Ever!" as a blockbuster. It's really interesting - pretty squirrels, chipmunks, birds, butterflies, small coloured fishes, all kinds of games... Very interesting. Barsick empathizes what is happening on screen and tries to get the "actors" with his paw.
She cat Musya is sleeping somewhere. She didn't appear still and didn't eat today yet.
Behold Musya has appeared lastly. She has stretched, then sharpened her claws on upholstery of a chair and again disappeared.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
No Saracens!
To hate such a cruel barbarian and false religion as Islam and its preachers is not racism and xenophobia.
Like is not racism to hate Arabic ISIS, Chinese or North Korean Communists or cannibals from the famous book "Robinson Crusoe".
From this ignorant brutal totalitarian sect "Islam" came out nothing except despotism, intolerance, medieval obscurantism, cutting off heads and arms, flogging and burning alive in cages.
Like is not racism to hate Arabic ISIS, Chinese or North Korean Communists or cannibals from the famous book "Robinson Crusoe".
From this ignorant brutal totalitarian sect "Islam" came out nothing except despotism, intolerance, medieval obscurantism, cutting off heads and arms, flogging and burning alive in cages.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Saracens, Muslim "refugees", make pogrom and conquest of Europe
Germany shocked by Cologne New Year gang assaults on women
Groped between the legs and a firework thrown into a hoodie: Brave female victims reveal the horrifying details after attacks by sex mob of 2,000 'North African and Arab' men in Cologne
В чем сходство гитлеровского нацизма и мусульман, ислама в Западной Европе кроме их нечеловеческой жестокости, нетерпимости и варварства?
В том, что и нацисты, и сарацины - мусульмане Европы, используют права, предоставляемые им западной буржуазной демократией (свобода слова, свобода совести, "толерантность", "нет - расизму", "нет - исламофобии" и т.д.) для того, чтобы уничтожить впоследствии и эту демократию, и вообще всю европейскую цивилизацию.
Секулярная, демократическая, языческая по сути, деморализованная Западная Европа и агрессивная жестокая тоталитарная секта ислам. Моральное и физическое противоборство здесь явно не в пользу первой.
Европа могла бы принять многие миллионы иммигрантов из Азии и Африки без всякого ущерба для себя, для цивилизации, если бы она была такой же религиозной, такой же христианской, такой же католической, какой она была 100 или 200 лет назад. Если бы перед каждым иммигрантом стояло как обязательное условие въезда в Европу - принятие христианства. Агрессивность Католической Церкви ничем не уступала тогда, два или три века назад, агрессивности ислама. Жёсткий контроль священника над повседневной жизнью прихожанина, катехизация, регулярная Исповедь, неуклонно каждое воскресенье - Месса, Литургия в храме. Менталитет, психология, мировоззрение бывшего мусульманина изменялись бы очень быстро и необратимо. Этническая принадлежность (араб, турок или китаец) уже не имели бы никакого значения.
Огромная территория России особенно нуждается для освоения во многих миллионах иммигрантов.
Но теперь на печальном опыте Западной Европы уже совершенно очевидно, что эти миллионы иммигрантов неизбежно должны принимать Православие, прежде чем получить право проживать в России. Причем их Православие должно быть не формальным, а реальным. Процесс их духовного перерождения должен находиться под особо пристальным вниманием, пастырством, Русской Православной Церкви. Раньше - в переписях царской России понятие "православный" и "русский" были синонимами.
В принципе ислам, мусульмане, равно как и буддизм, и прочие псевдорелигии должны быть вообще искоренены в России, но это, конечно, дело очень далекой исторической перспективы.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Is Russia still a key world power?
- It remains the world's largest country and the largest oil producer
- It retains its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (one among five)
- Its nuclear arsenal (in Cold War times one of five countries, but now one of nine) has been progressively modernised
- Sustained increases in defence spending have brought it close to its goal of escalation dominance in local and regional war
Russia's economy is the 10th largest in the world, producing little of value beyond hydrocarbons.
Corruption and rent-seeking extract an enormous economic toll.
It remains burdened with Soviet era infrastructure, and its ability to meet the educational and medical needs of its population is rapidly declining.
Whatever one's view, two further points for and against Russia's global standing are undeniable:
- Russia regards itself as a great power - it is not in question anywhere inside the country
- China has long since eclipsed Russia as the world's number two power behind the US
Distinct Eurasian niche
Regardless of hypothetical rankings or real-world measurements, Russia has carved out a niche for itself as a distinct Eurasian pole in world politics, allied to neither Europe nor Asia but seeking influence there and beyond.Its membership of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group of rising powers suggests an acknowledgement that Russia has not quite arrived (there is no contradiction for Russia between this and pre-existing great power status) but also that is it is civilisationally distinct from Europe.
Certainly, there is no current desire to be part of most prominent Western-led organisations such as the European Union.
Indeed, Russia has striven to come up with its own alternatives over the years, the latest of which, a Eurasian Union, is designed precisely as a counterweight but free of the burden of Western norms and values.
Whether it will have a longer life than its antecedents, considering Russia's failing economic fortunes and other countries' evident reluctance to be joined too closely, remains to be seen.
Russia's mission beyond the quest for influence is hard to discern.
It is the world's most ostentatious foe of democracy promotion.
But its foreign aid is minimal (especially beyond the other former Soviet states - where its purpose is often regarded as a double-edged sword), and its contribution to UN-led peacekeeping has withered since the 1990s.
World's largest economies by gross domestic product (GDP) (in millions of US dollars, 2014):
- US: 17,419,000
- China: 10,360,105
- Japan: 4,601,461
- Germany: 3,852,556
- UK: 2,941,886
- France: 2,829,192
- Brazil: 2,346,118
- Italy: 2,144,338
- India: 2,066,902
- Russian Federation: 1,860,598
Until the recent campaign in Syria, Russia had talked of itself as a global power, but behaved like a regional power.
Russia's greatest challenge is to preserve its global importance while most of the relevant indicators are dropping and its allies are few and far between (dictators, largely).
For some, Russia's natural and historical pre-eminence mean it will always be a key player.
Others fear Russia may compensate for weakness with risky foreign adventurism.
Indeed, for many, it is already doing just that.
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