Now here's a creative military operation: the British set up a fake Laundromat in Belfast, where they wanted to find IRA bomb-makers. They staffed the Laundromat with locals and sent out coupons to different neighborhoods, with each neighborhoods coupon a different color. When people brought their clothes and coupons in, they got their clothes washed, but while their clothes were being washed, they were secretly being analyzed for bomb-making chemical residue. While the laundry was indeed being washed, pressed and dry cleaned, it had one additional cycle — every garment, sheet, glove, pair of pants, was first sent through an analyzer, located in the basement, that checked for bomb-making residue. The analyzer was disguised as just another piece of the laundry equipment; good OPSEC [operational security]. Within a few weeks, multiple positives had shown up, indicating the ingredients of bomb residue, and intelligence had determined which areas of the city were involved. To narrow their target list, [the laundry] simply sent out more specific coupons [numbered] to all houses in the area, and before long they had good addresses. After confirming addresses, authorities with the SAS teams swooped down on the multiple homes and arrested multiple personnel and confiscated numerous assembled bombs, weapons and ingredients. During the entire operation, no one was injured or killed.
What an amazing operation. On the one hand, the privacy-minded part of me wants to object to tricking normal people into having their clothes inspected my the feds. On the other hand, this operation arrested bomb-makers who were planning to kill people without ending a single human life.



http://gizmodo.com/5065872/brits-set-up-fake-laundromats-with-bomb+sniffing-washing-machines



Sneay sneaky. British totseans beware.

Wow, that's really scummy. Good thing I don't live in fucking Britain (or Oceania).

That's clever. Anyway, I can't imagine anyone having a reasonable expectation of privacy with regards to taking clothes to the laundromat.

umm, sure its clever, but wouldnt the government have blown their cover if they announced this publicly?

umm, sure its clever, but wouldnt the government have blown their cover if they announced this publicly?

Yeah really. Smooth move UK. They wont suspect a thing now.

The British people are sneaky, devious bastards, it is therefore only natural that these traits show up in the people who govern them.

Orwell much? Jesus fuckin Christ...

umm, sure its clever, but wouldnt the government have blown their cover if they announced this publicly?

It's to scare bombers. Ofcourse next time they'll come up with another ruse. I hope the bombers are smarter than you guys...

Orwell much? Jesus fuckin Christ...

not really brah.

no innocent civilian was investigated, they didn't know who the clothing belonged to, just what neighbourhood...

Wow, that's really scummy. Good thing I don't live in fucking Britain (or Oceania).
I think Airstrip One is a very decent city to live in. Good that they prevented its foreign bombing.

I like how cos this is Britain it's like "Orwell? 1984? ZOMG YOUR GOVERNMENT ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR WASHING, DO YOU HAVE NO PRIVACY?!"

Yet if it was America, all the Ameritards will be like "WOOOO YEA AMERICA! That's some great thinking to uncover terrorists".

Oh well, at least us Brits aren't in massive denial about the erosion of our rights and civil liberties :)

I like how cos this is Britain it's like "Orwell? 1984? ZOMG YOUR GOVERNMENT ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR WASHING, DO YOU HAVE NO PRIVACY?!"

Yet if it was America, all the Ameritards will be like "WOOOO YEA AMERICA! That's some great thinking to uncover terrorists".

Oh well, at least us Brits aren't in massive denial about the erosion of our rights and civil liberties :)
Good point, actually.

I like how cos this is Britain it's like "Orwell? 1984? ZOMG YOUR GOVERNMENT ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR WASHING, DO YOU HAVE NO PRIVACY?!"

Yet if it was America, all the Ameritards will be like "WOOOO YEA AMERICA! That's some great thinking to uncover terrorists".

Oh well, at least us Brits aren't in massive denial about the erosion of our rights and civil liberties :)

I think many, though not all of us, are under credited by that statement, as it is usually a big issue if something like this happens... at least to those of us not wanting to take it in the ass from big brother.

But, I imagine we all will. Because so many of us are starting to be like brits. Just taking it.

Because so many of us are starting to be like brits. Just taking it.

You're wrong.

We know our rights are being taken away, and we don't really give a shit unless it directly affects our everyday lives, so far it hasn't.

However yanks are like "We're the land of the free, land of liberty and all that bullshit" when in reality your Government shit on you more than ours does.

You're wrong.

We know our rights are being taken away, and we don't really give a shit unless it directly affects our everyday lives, so far it hasn't.

However yanks are like "We're the land of the free, land of liberty and all that bullshit" when in reality your Government shit on you more than ours does.

I see. So I imagine the Brits loathe Benjamin Franklin for his quote on this sort of thing?

I don't see how we're taking it any harder than you all are. I don't really have a nation wide system recording my route every time I take the car out (did they implement that there yet?). I'm not entirely sure about your situation, but I'm led to believe it is at least as bad in your country as ours... except I don't have some jackass on an intercom watching me through a camera to tell me not to litter. And I can, for now, have at least have a semi-better chance at defending myself with a gun that fires more than once.

But, I'll save time and say you probably don't feel particularly affected by any of this?

EDIT: I feel so white trash defending freedom with a name like billybob... should've thought about that.

There'd be a bit of an uproar if this happened in America, in my opinion. Let's not turn this into another uk vs america thread.

except I don't have some jackass on an intercom watching me through a camera to tell me not to litter..

That happened in 1 town, maybe 2. It's not even close to being a nationwide thing.

If I drive my car on the street, I expect undercover cop cars to run my plate numbers. When I walk through the city center, I expect to be scrutinized by cameras. If I were to use a computer at work, I'd expect my internet browsing and hard drive to be monitored. And if I were to send clothes to the drycleaner, I would expect the pockets to be checked.

If I were an unlicenced, wanted crimininal who visits terrorist websites and leaves receipts for chemicals in pockets or explosive residue on my clothes, and I was stupid enough to do any of those things, then I deserve to be caught.

I've always just assumed that my privacy stops at my front door.

That happened in 1 town, maybe 2. It's not even close to being a nationwide thing.

Doesn't that sort of give the impression that it will happen again all over?

And anyway, like Some Old Drunk Guy said, this shouldn't be a UK vs US thread. Neither particularly likes it im sure.

Neither particularly likes it im sure.
There's something everyone can agree on.

fucking feds.

Doesn't that sort of give the impression that it will happen again all over?
.

No.

And it was Middlesbrough anyway, they're just a town full of heroin addicts.

No.

And it was Middlesbrough anyway, they're just a town full of heroin addicts.

Well there you go, I was under the impression it was under construction nation wide. Being a resident there in the UK, you're probably entitled to your view of it. Probably shouldn't have bashed the UK over it then, my mistake.

Not to say I don't still think we would react a little more to this kind of thing. Or hope we would react more.

Well there you go, I was under the impression it was under construction nation wide. Being a resident there in the UK, you're probably entitled to your view of it. Probably shouldn't have bashed the UK over it then, my mistake.

Not to say I don't still think we would react a little more to this kind of thing. Or hope we would react more.

Your drinking age is 21 and you're not allowed to have sex until you're 18.

England may have more cameras around, but when it comes to the liberties that actually affect your every day life, you're getting fucked over a lot more than the english.

Your drinking age is 21 and you're not allowed to have sex until you're 18.

England may have more cameras around, but when it comes to the liberties that actually affect your every day life, you're getting fucked over a lot more than the english.

Age of consent varies from state to state.

The drinking age is a joke. It's there to keep overprotective parents happy, anyboby can drink and be just about completely safe about not getting caught (failing some massive act of stupidity or bad luck).

And I did say I didn't want to have a full on us vs you thread. So... you know. Have your own thoughts and lets not have issues about it. It isn't the reason behind this thread.

Just to kill the uk v us argument forever:

http://pics.ipostr.com/pics/pic_1217119168584700.jpg

Just to kill the uk v us argument forever:

http://pics.ipostr.com/pics/pic_1217119168584700.jpg

Well thats great. You would rather have Charles Darwin than God on currency. Now I know.

Well thats great. You would rather have Charles Darwin than God on currency. Now I know.

You believe in God, we believe in Evolution.

Says it all, really.

You believe in God, we believe in Evolution.
lol, And Canada believes in hockey and nature. Where does that place us in terms of monetary values? Agnosticism and naivety (sp)?

Don't worry though, I agree about the Darwin > God on money thing.

lol, And Canada believes in hockey and nature. Where does that place us in terms of monetary values? Agnosticism and naivety (sp)?

Don't worry though, I agree about the Darwin > God on money thing.

God is a symbol. You can believe in evolution and still use the concept of God.

God is a symbol. You can believe in evolution and still use the concept of God.
I suppose that's true.

But good luck trying to dispel the masses of UK vs USA threads with reason like that. :p

What do you mean exactly by "use the concept of god"
Believe in it? Cause if so then no, you can't what with creationism.
Or do you mean literally use as in abuse? If so you have just cheapened it beyond all value. What use is the concept of God if you are awarely "using" it for some other end?


Very clever laundromat tactics.
Shame the USA can't be clever like that and instead just locks people up unjustified and indefinitely.

What do you mean exactly by "use the concept of god"
Believe in it? Cause if so then no, you can't what with creationism.
Or do you mean literally use as in abuse? If so you have just cheapened it beyond all value. What use is the concept of God if you are awarely "using" it for some other end?

Just use it to mean something ideal/perfect/right. You know, like we use "luck", and other such things. Not to explain how things happen in a scientific discussion or inside your head, obviously.

Bombs can be make from household materials.

That's bullshit probable cause to send in SAS.

Fuck your civil rights.

How long has the IRA been gone ?

A friend of mine told me the Catholic chaplains in the British army would just walk around asking who was in the IRA (this was the very early 70s) because they were CATHOLIC chaplains alot of people would tell them.

[1] They would do whatever a priest said
[2] They assumed they were on he 'catholic side'

It worked for a few months. The brits were quite smart in northern ireland.

How long has the IRA been gone ?

The Good Friday Agreement which included the plans on winding down the IRA was signed 10 years ago. The IRA wound down over the next few years and the Provisional IRA which actually fought against the British Army is no longer a fighting force. There are small organisations which style themselves Oglaigh na hEireann (Soldiers for Ireland) in various English translations but they have no support base and are unfortunately now criminal organisations.

The Good Friday Agreement which included the plans on winding down the IRA was signed 10 years ago. The IRA wound down over the next few years and the Provisional IRA which actually fought against the British Army is no longer a fighting force. There are small organisations which style themselves Oglaigh na hEireann (Soldiers for Ireland) in various English translations but they have no support base and are unfortunately now criminal organisations.

Thanks,....I knew that, my question was more like a sarcasm directed at post 4,5,6-10 cos they're talking like it's a current event..... :)

apologies methamatician I didn't mean to be patronising.

I like how cos this is Britain it's like "Orwell? 1984? ZOMG YOUR GOVERNMENT ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR WASHING, DO YOU HAVE NO PRIVACY?!"

Yet if it was America, all the Ameritards will be like "WOOOO YEA AMERICA! That's some great thinking to uncover terrorists".

Oh well, at least us Brits aren't in massive denial about the erosion of our rights and civil liberties :)

I believe you're mixing "americans" and "red necks" into one group, which is never a good thing to do.

americans know we're being fucked by our government, but few people care. And the people who do care are either arrested, killed, or ignored.

Rednecks, on the other hand, are those stupid dumbasses who run around shouting about how "america kicks ass" and all this other stupid shit.

Anyway

What the british did here was pretty smart, and it doesn't really surprise me that they'd do something like this. There's very little privacy left there anyway, so why does this surprise people?

apologies methamatician I didn't mean to be patronising.

No need,... I enjoyed talking about IRA...especially from an actual person who lives in Ireland....

So...do you people still speaks english with heavy irish accent like in the movies these days ???

It's all relative. Irish accents are much stronger in general than American accents.

www.radiokerry.ie/live.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radiofoyle/