Chaos in Spain

[Capetonian]

El Generalissimo has arisen and his spirit is alive and well.

[OFSO]

Thousands of people spent the night in their cars and trucks after Tsunami Democratic blocked the six-lane AP-7 motorway at Girona.

[OFSO]

Spanish scrabbling to form a government for the fourth time in four years. They were hoping to have Sanchez in place before Christmas but yet again no overall majority. Here we go again. Possibly a fifth General Election in 2020. Condemned to repeat the same stupidity over and over, because the Constitution 'cannot' be modified.

[Woody]

Can anyone else see the potential problem with this

Spain's defence ministry is opening more special forces roles to women as part of international efforts to tackle terrorism and unconventional warfare.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles says the UN has called for more women to help resolve conflicts worldwide.
Arabic-speaking women are among those sought for UN- or Nato-led missions in conflict areas, such as Iraq or Libya.
Ms Robles was visiting the army's command for special operations, where some women have joined elite units.
At the command centre (MOE) in Rabasa, near Alicante on Thursday, the minister watched a mock assault on a terrorist compound with the aim of seizing intelligence - the kind of raid conducted often against insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[OFSO]

No, no problem. Country is trying to be PC while Ortega-Smith gets.more and more powerful. What could go wrong..

[BenThere]

My observation during my USAF 30 year experience is that Navy Seals are the premier, while Army Green Berets and Air Force Special Forces are very highly competent. All of these components are comprised of very tough and well-trained men. Maybe women could be cultivated for the special forces mission, but I doubt they will ever achieve the physical and toughness requirements of today's special forces. I have always been and remain in awe of Seals, Green Berets, and USAF special forces. They are our best of breed.

I need to edit to add: US Marines are marvelous as well. When any Marine comes into the Freedom Center in Detroit where I do volunteer work a few days a month, I stand up to welcome him, and treat him, and often his family accompanying him with the utmost respect. I absolutely love all our young troops, they are why I work there, especially the younger enlisted who don't make much money and struggle to get by. They deserve so much more than I can give.

[Woody]

Might be worth watching later tonight

Wednesday night's rearranged El Clasico is set to be marred by thousands of inflatable beach balls being thrown on the pitch by Catalan protesters.

Barcelona were initially scheduled to host Madrid at the end of October but saw the game postponed by La Liga chief Javier Tebas due to fears over safety with pro-independence protests taking place locally.

[OFSO]

Bugger Spain while I'm not there !

[OFSO]

Riots outside the Camp Nou during El Clasico last night. Running battles with police. Inside, banners on display asking Spain to sit and talk. Fat chance of that. The active branch of those wishing for Catalunia to be granted independence has just been declared a 'criminal organisation' by the Madrid government.

[OFSO]

The Catalan government has collapsed, too many small parties can't agree. General Election to follow, if the apathetic voters can be bothered. A good time for the Spanish Army (such as it is) to invade and impose fascism, sorry, democracy.

[OFSO]

This morning, the Spanish health minister said the public should trust the Spanish NHS in dealing with the Corona virus, and have no concerns regarding attending the annual Mobile Phone Congress in Barcelona, due to start in two weeks time.

This afternoon, the organisers cancelled the event. Absolutely justified, IMHO.

[Pontius Navigator]

BenThere, in UK, ex-Special Forces guys have run a 'game show' where civilians undergo a 14 day SAS test. We get to see 6 one hour episodes. What we see is enough to put most people off. This last series has just finished. They had both men and women and everyone equal with women milling with men, doing buddy carry regardless of weight up a mountain etc. I only had to do a 100 yard carry on the flat and that knackered me.

In contrast our reserve forces Selection lasts a year.

However this series saw the last 4 being 2 men and 2 women. On the last day the two women failed, it was close but strength was the ultimate difference. In an earlier series only a woman won.

Women have many attributes that can make them ideal and the match of many men, but where physical strength is required the men have the edge

[BenThere]

I agree, I think. In my reserve squadron, where I flew for 22 years, flying KC-135 tankers, we had several women who performed their jobs to standards that weren't bent to ensure their success. They were real pilots. But flying a tanker isn't physically demanding.

Special Forces, on the other hand, are the ultimate combat soldiers, and the physical demands to be elevated to that level should not be bent to ensure womens' success either. If a woman can do it to the same standards men are expected to perform to, I've no objection. But I have a feeling not many of them can perform at that level. Special Forces are the best of the best at what they do and should not be compromised at the altar of any sort of political correctness or identity politics. The mission is what counts.

[ian16th]

This chat about Special Forces prompts me to ask, are y'all aware that during WWII the RAF had Servicing Commando's?

These guys were technical tradesmen who went through some sort of Commando training.

[Woody]

Someone’s been a bit naughty

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51577694

[G-CPTN]

They need to keep tabs on those people.

[OFSO]

.....but nice to see British Enterprise in countries where the locals are less than interested in working.

[OFSO]

Two more wives murdered in Spain last night. Domestic violence said, on this morning's TV News, to be out of control. Protest marches by ladies in the larger cities. Can't all be North African immigrants, surely ?

[OFSO]

A huge pro-separation meeting in Perpignan, France today, tens of thousands of Catalan citizens travelled up across the border, including the Catalan president, meeting Catalan politicians from Germany, Belgium, France and Scotland who dare not set foot in their own country because of Spanish arrest warrants for rebellion, sedition, etc. The event was well supported by the French authorities in Perpignan, who acknowledge they are Catalan Nord.

[OFSO]

1) Receive a link from another member of this site, saying the Spanish are worried about resident ex-pats moving to Portugal where it's cheaper, and what can they, the Spanish, do to stop this trend.
2) Watch Spanish TV news to see discussion in Madrid government about reducing benefits and raising taxes.