# London Thanks the USAF for Their Support **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 12, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150 "2005-07-12T08:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/201 "2005-07-14T00:43:50Z")
Personally I do not think this LT AF guy is for real. I mean maybe he is some AFROTC flunky, but I doubt he is in the Air Force. I mean jeez, he doesn’t even know the Air Force Chain of Command. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/202 "2005-07-14T00:44:39Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Two Dopers enter, and, um, two Dopers leave, but they beat the hell out of each other first. **Round one** Doper A hurls insults at Doper B. The crowd hurls insults at Doper A. Nothing much happens. **Round two** Doper B notices. Doper B posts a snippy response that the thread isn’t worth his time. The crowd mutter that this shouldn’t be in MPSIMS **Round three** Thread moved to the pit Doper C weighs in against Doper B Doper D points out that everything Doper C said is a crock’o’shit, with Snopes links as evidence. Doper C tells Doper D that he should read the rules. Doper D quotes the rules at Doper C **Round four** Doper B quotes Doper D, attributing it to Doper A. … … … ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/203 "2005-07-14T00:47:19Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Personally I do not think this LT AF guy is for real. I mean maybe he is some AFROTC flunky, but I doubt he is in the Air Force. > > I mean jeez, he doesn’t even know the Air Force Chain of Command. I’m glad somebody else came out and made their suspicions public first 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/204 "2005-07-14T00:48:59Z")
Well, that’s the thing about virtuality, anybody could pretend to be anybody. Personally, I’m a bit suspicious about why such a patriotic all-American soldier as **Lt AF** would use the British spelling of “criticise”. (At least three separate times, too.) ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/205 "2005-07-14T00:49:35Z")
**Gorilla** , that does seem to be a problem. Okay, one-on-one Doper Cage Match with ninja death demons sent to mercilessly tickle whoever the mods decides is the ‘loser’ of the debate. And videos sold for $19.95 Come on, doesn’t everybody here have a Doper who they’d pay $19.95 to see get tickled 'till they puke? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/206 "2005-07-14T00:52:01Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > one-on-one Doper Cage Match with ninja death demons sent to mercilessly tickle whoever the mods decides is the ‘loser’ of the debate. And videos sold for $19.95 > > Come on, doesn’t everybody here have a Doper who they’d pay $19.95 to see get tickled 'till they puke? _counts out the notes ready for the obligatory mod-bribes_ ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/207 "2005-07-14T00:58:50Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Personally, I’m a bit suspicious about why such a patriotic all-American soldier as **Lt AF** would use the British spelling of “criticise”. (At least three separate times, too.) Hmmmm - [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6363857&postcount=22) shows him at further depths of idiocy, at the very least: > [@Lt AF](#): > > I’m sure there are plenty of friendly fire incidents out there where Canadians have wasted some poor guys from some other country. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/208 "2005-07-14T01:27:31Z")
> [@Lt AF](#): > > Here is the Oath that I took when I commissioned in the USAF. > > “I, (state your full name), having been appointed a second lieutenant, in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me God” > > Where in here does it say that I am a servant of the people? My sole job is to support and defend the Constitution of the US. This is why you, as a civilian, have ZERO authority over me. In fact, there is only 1 civilian in my chain of command and thats POTUS. Blow it out your arse son. For someone sworn to the constitution you jokers have done a really good job of ignoring it of late. I live here, but am not an American. You are a servant of the people, not the POTUS. Fascists swear to the leader, people in a democracy ought not. People like you make me really happy that my home country told the US to stick their visits by ships etc…, up their collective arse. As for duking it out, as you mentioned in an earlier post. Any-fucking-time. Got the balls? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/209 "2005-07-14T01:28:42Z")
> [@UnwrittenNocturne](#): > > Fascists swear to the leader, people in a democracy ought not. Thank you for summing up exactly what I was trying to get at. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/210 "2005-07-14T01:35:58Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Thank you for summing up exactly what I was trying to get at. While I suspect that the guy who wrote this is a fraud, I would willingly go kick his sorry arse. He ‘speaks’ like a fascist, pure and simple. What I find frightening is the number of people who do so at the moment. My offer to kick his arse is valid, and I will take it up anytime he/she/it has the balls. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/211 "2005-07-14T01:42:33Z")
> [@UnwrittenNocturne](#): > > While I suspect that the guy who wrote this is a fraud, I would willingly go kick his sorry arse. He ‘speaks’ like a fascist, pure and simple. What I find frightening is the number of people who do so at the moment. I would like to congratulate you, for being able to use the term ‘fascist’ correctly, and avoiding Godwinising the discussion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/212 "2005-07-14T02:02:56Z")
> [@UnwrittenNocturne](#): > > While I suspect that the guy who wrote this is a fraud, I would willingly go kick his sorry arse. He ‘speaks’ like a fascist, pure and simple. What I find frightening is the number of people who do so at the moment. > > My offer to kick his arse is valid, and I will take it up anytime he/she/it has the balls. Suspicion is one thing, **Nocturne** ; knowledge is quite another. As for your primary point of outrage, all _kinds_ of people ‘speak’ on the Dope. That’s rather the point. If somebody’s full of shit, argue 'em down. Don’t threaten violence. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/213 "2005-07-14T02:30:55Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > Suspicion is one thing, **Nocturne** ; knowledge is quite another. > > As for your primary point of outrage, all _kinds_ of people ‘speak’ on the Dope. That’s rather the point. If somebody’s full of shit, argue 'em down. > > Don’t threaten violence. > > Veb **TVeblen** , you do know that **UnwrittenNocturne** and I are separate people, right? We do post from the same IP, because we’re married–but still. Imagine my surprise to find out I got an admonishment. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/214 "2005-07-14T02:53:57Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > **Lt AF:** _What the fuck is your buy-in here jackson?_ > > **Lt AF:** _There is no arguement here jackson._ > > It’s evil of me, but I’m kind of looking forward to the reaction when our new friend **Lt AF** gets horked off like this at **Liberal**. 😃 > > Yes, I’m a bad person and I’m going to bed now… It gives me the incredible urge to start screaming drill sergeant quotes from _Full Metal Jacket_. “WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, NUMBNUTS? DIDN’T MOMMY AND DADDY SHOW YOU ENOUGH ATTENTION WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?” ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/215 "2005-07-14T03:09:56Z")
> [@Lt AF](#): > > Here is the Oath that I took when I commissioned in the USAF. > > "It’s not my job to be popular, nice or likable. My job is to execute the lawful orders of my superiors. Not to criticise or second guess them. Plain and simlel Perhaps you would like to explain what you consider lawful. I understand that the US will not allow any of their personnel to be tried by an international court (which strikes me as cowardly). I suppose any orders are lawful to you. Let me ask though. Have you ever actually been in the military or is this all bullshit? I call bullshit. Given your tendencies I think no military in the world, outside certain states, would want anything to do with you. Psych profiling would pull you out as a psychopath. I know you are a fascist. I know you are willing and happy to use the ‘orders’ defense. I know you are an arsehole. Is it any wonder that people like you make people like me (that is to say, people with a conscience) distrust all things that link politics with the military? ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/216 "2005-07-14T03:17:47Z")
> [@Lt AF](#): > > It makes me ill when I see Americans trying to justify their actions to foreigners like they owe them some explaination or something when they in fact do not. You know what? Americans do have to try to justify their actions to other people. Arrogant cunt. Especially when those actions have an impact on all of us. While I still call foul on your claim to being an officer in the US military I hole to mty cal that you are an unrepentant prick. Like Franco. In all honesty, rather live under Castro than an arsehole like you ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/217 "2005-07-14T04:41:35Z")
Wow, can’t you just feel the love for the military in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/218 "2005-07-14T07:44:19Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Wow, can’t you just feel the love for the military in this thread? Well, look at it this way… there’s a LOT more love for the military, and people defending it, than there ever is for Bush 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/219 "2005-07-14T07:51:43Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > The travel ban _in itself_ was reasonable, for the reasons so vocally and eloquently and imaginatively explained in this thread … Then why are you arguing about whether there was an "emergency’ in London or not? Clearly, there was something that was bad enough that the travel restriction was reasonable in the first place. > [@](#): > > the apparent failure to have any realistic ongoing assessment of the situation, including use of information from reliable outside sources, with an eye to removing the ban as soon as circumstances allowed, is (at the very least) a case of extremely poor planning. Uhhh, I don’t think we really disagree all that much… but it still strikes me as totally reasonable that in the Big Book of Things To Do In Emergencies, there are LOTS of things to do, most of which won’t matter in most emergencies, but all of which you do anyhow, just in case. And one of them is to impose travel restrictions. However, what with all the other things in that Big Book, I doubt anyone ever came up with a super-time-critical standard must-be-implemented set of plans for the removal of those restrictions. And if you’d said to someone two weeks ago “so, the US Air Force has a standard procedure wherein, if a state of emergency arises in a particular area near an air base, servicemen will be restricted from travelling there. However, there is no clear procedure stating how long that restriction should last, so it will sometimes remain in effect a few days (or more) past when it is strictly necessary”, NO ONE would have thought “OH DEAR LORD! This omission must be remedied instantly, lest grave crises of overly long travel restrictions ensue!!!” When the air force doesn’t have a policy about how to deal with sexual harrassment, THAT is criminally negligent planning. Not benig on the ball on THIS issue, given that (as far as I know) it’s NEVER before mattered in the history of humanity, is very forgiveable. Seriously… if you’d said to me “OK, there’s going to be a bombing in London on a Thursday. On the follownig Monday, there are going to be angry headlines in London papers due to some action/inaction of the US Air Force. What will that action/inaction be?” I would NEVER, in a jillion years, have come up with this. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150/220 "2005-07-14T08:20:52Z")
I for one an surprised that this thread is still going, I didn’t realise that there was so much strength of feeling on this issue. I third the motion that **Lt AF** is either a fake or is seriously whooshing us. Surely there can’t really be people that think like that in the USAF? He/she’s like a combination of all of the worst military stereotypes known to mankind. If he/she is real then we can only hope that such attittudes are not common in the USAF, otherwise we really are in trouble. I suspect though that it was just a wind up, as he/she has not been back to refute these accusations since they were raised. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-thanks-the-usaf-for-their-support/312150.md?page=12)