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So he got the dogs out and left the people behind?!

445 replies

Sillysuzie · 31/08/2021 08:39

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/30/britain-dogs-afghan-people-pen-farthing

OP posts:
Plumtree391 · 31/08/2021 21:31

@Peaseblossum22

You can’t have one rule for one and not another . It’s never right to threaten someone full stop.
The guy has apologised. People do crack under pressure and often regret it. He hasn't done anything unforgivable.
WanderingFruitWonderer · 31/08/2021 21:49

@Piccalino3

I've read some of these threads, admittedly, not this one all the way through and I can't believe people are still up in arms about this. I know nothing about Pen Farthing other than what has been reported lately, I just listened to the recording and I don't blame him one bit for being threatening, rude and aggressive. He was desperate. This is a life or death situation. I'm sure people have been more aggressive over an outage of wifi or other similar reasons. We are lucky, most of us, to never know that stress. Had he not been pushy and capitalised on social media he'd have got no where. I followed the story and glad he got out with the animals but I am so so sad and sorry for his staff. I hope he finds a way to get them out, it seems like he'll be working flat out to do so.

None of us know if the army personal who helped load the crates were taken away from other duties which would helped people. There must be strict ways people have been processed. The ones loading may have had no one to load at that time. None of us know how the processing works. Pen tried to do a good thing and sadly was only partly successful. This all went wrong and people have been abandoned to their terrible fate for many reasons but those reasons have to do with government, not Pen Farthing. We need to lay the blame where it belongs and hold those who failed in their duties to account.

Agree with every word of this post 👏👏
VeganVeg · 31/08/2021 21:51

But, in terms of connecting with like-minded souls, and sharing ideas and campaigns and so on, I can see it would have advantages. I'm considering it.

Through twitter I’ve ‘met’ some lovely people. I’m a real animal lover, involved with rescue charities and a vegan and I’ve found people to be really kind. Ive found out about lots of good causes on there. I’ve also met people who have the same hobby as me and are fans of the same bands. It’s very easy to block anyone if you ever find you need to. I’d definitely give it a try if I were you....and it’s easy to just delete it all of you hate it.

WanderingFruitWonderer · 31/08/2021 21:59

Thanks @VeganVeg. Yes, I'm a vegan and passionate animal lover too. As well as human rights, and the environment etc.
I think you've persuaded me. I'm very sensitive, and that's what put me off, as I've heard Twitter can be a harsh online landscape at times? I get upset enough by MN sometimes! But if it's easy to block the mean stuff out, then I'll be more inclined to give it a whirl. Thank you

VeganVeg · 31/08/2021 22:12

Yes, I'm a vegan and passionate animal lover too. As well as human rights, and the environment etc.
I think you've persuaded me. I'm very sensitive, and that's what put me off, as I've heard Twitter can be a harsh online landscape at times? I get upset enough by MN sometimes! But if it's easy to block the mean stuff out, then I'll be more inclined to give it a whirl. Thank you

You sound lovely. You’ll find lots of like minded people on there. I think I’ve probably blocked about 3 or 4 people on there, just idiots trying to wind me up for being vegan...some do seek out vegans or people posting in support of animal welfare. 🙄 But as I said a couple of clicks and they’re blocked, I’ve actually found it’s restored my faith in humanity seeing so many people being passionate, kind and supportive of various charities and campaigns. There are some tremendously kind people around.

Babyroobs · 31/08/2021 22:17

He did better than the US army who apparently left their service dogs behind. Disgusting.

VenusClapTrap · 31/08/2021 22:45

The offensive voicemail wasn’t to a civil servant. It was to a Spad - a Special Advisor; a person employed by a government minister to give them political advice.

SofiaMichelle · 31/08/2021 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Stonerosie67 · 31/08/2021 23:39

No excuse whatsoever for this idiot, his cronies or his brain-dead supporters making threats towards anyone.

Classy response.....🙄🙄🙄🙄

VeganVeg · 01/09/2021 00:08

Classy response

Hopefully mumsnet will delete it in the morning. Calling people brain dead doesn’t seem ‘in the spirit’ to me. They’re getting desperate cos all they’re ‘anti Pen’ stuff doesn’t seem to be working.

OhGiveUp · 01/09/2021 00:29

I blame the queen personally. I was told by a neighbour six doors down, whose best friend's mother was told by her daughter's best friend's boyfriends mum, that the queen had phoned PF and told him that she was having a spot of bother with her favourite son, and could PF arrange it so the papers were all over him to take the heat off, and that she offered him a year's supply of bonio and dreamies for his trouble.

This is how ridiculous this thread is. Hearsay and Chinese whispers.
I don't doubt that some of the events mentioned are true, but come on, none of us here know the full and exact details.

Plumtree391 · 01/09/2021 02:01

I actually watched the Morning TV interview with him in Norway. He was utterly exhausted but explained everywhere well and is obviously upset and frustrated that he couldn't get all his staff out because of last minute changes. He is concerned about a lot of other people left behind whom he knows having been there for quite a while. Not a happy situation but he did his best.

He apologised profusely for his loss of temper and bad language born of frustration and regrets the words but not the sentiments.

WanderingFruitWonderer · 01/09/2021 06:11

Agree @Plumtree391. I'm heartened that most people in RL, as far as I can tell, can see the truth here.

Thanks @VeganVeg that's all very helpful advice. You sound lovely too. My Twitter adventure is about to begin!

PomRuns · 01/09/2021 06:48

I think most people are dismayed that dogs were given priority over children.

rigmarolo · 01/09/2021 07:02

He is an awful human being.

Why anyone was wasting any of their own let alone other people's time 'rescuing' cats and dogs when there were people whose lives were seriously at risk who needed urgent rescuing I have no idea.

It really shows the worst side of Britishness.

rigmarolo · 01/09/2021 07:06

It will contribute to an already dreadful lack of trust from other nations towards the British. How can we persuade our allies in future that we are serious allies, when we have demonstrated that when the shit hits the fan, we actually think their lives are worth less than the life of a pet? It was bad enough that we were leaving the country in such a disorganised way. But this just rubs it in.

Parker231 · 01/09/2021 07:11

He has already said got entry Karbul airport via Taliban as they were controlling who could access the airport. The Taliban wouldn’t let his Afghan staff leave the country. By time he left on charter plane, UK Gov could find no people to put in seats of plane, British army had left airport & it was US military who helped load the animals.

I find it impossible that the U.K. government couldn’t have saved more people by putting them on his flight - what a huge government mess up.

VeganVeg · 01/09/2021 07:53

I think most people are dismayed that dogs were given priority over children

🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤦🏻‍♀️

WanderingFruitWonderer · 01/09/2021 08:13

@PomRuns

I think most people are dismayed that dogs were given priority over children.
Again, as has been explained many times upthread, and on other threads, and elsewhere, that's not at all what happened, and not what PF was trying to do, or indeed most of his supporters. Most, if not all, of whom care immensely about getting as many innocent children out of Afghanistan as possible. I don't know why some people seem to almost willfully be trying to misunderstand. It's exhausting to continually explain! Operation Ark was/is primarily a humanitarian mission. Had it gone to plan, many more innocent people, including many children, would have got out than had Operation Ark not existed. It's not PF's fault it didn't go to plan. Work is still being done to get those people, including children, out. No children were left, as a result of Operation Ark. For whatever reason, some people are choosing to believe a false narrative. But, I do believe that most people can see through the smear campaign, and recognise it for what it is. For the record, as explained before, I was and am devastated by the images of people stuck in Afghanistan against their will. I can't bear to see children suffering, or animals. Please put the blame for the fact that people have been left, where it belongs - the government. Thank you
VeganVeg · 01/09/2021 08:27

Well said WanderingFruitWonderer. It really is become of exhausting, you are right. But I think these people intent with going forward with this smear campaign want to wear people down and shut them up. That won’t happen, people won’t let a kind, compassionate man take the blame for government failings. The idea that he could be to blame for this is ludicrous.

You should read the post too rigmarolo.

VeganVeg · 01/09/2021 08:27

*becoming

Parker231 · 01/09/2021 08:30

twitter.com/talkradio/status/1432416025438523392?s=21

This is worth listening to if you want to know what happened.

WanderingFruitWonderer · 01/09/2021 08:37

I find the misunderstanding and misinformation surrounding this so upsetting. It's very hurtful for people to essentially accuse PF and Operation Ark supporters of not being bothered about people, when literally the opposite is the case. Operation Ark was about people and animals. With a strong emphasis on the people, including children.
I care about both people and animals, as do most people who are sympathetic to Operation Ark that I know.
Anyway, I don't think I can cope with it anymore! Busy day, and I'm going to try to devote my spare time to seeing what I can do to help with further rescue efforts going forward.
I don't like engaging with these threads, and try to stay away, but when I see the injustice of the false allegations, I feel I have to balance that out with the truth. Of course the real injustice is the fact that so many innocent Afghan people have been betrayed by western governments, and that's the thing we should collectively be working to resolve.
I don't have a quarrel with anyone on this thread. My quarrel is with the powers that be. But, I just find it so upsetting that blame is being cast on one brave man, rather than on those who really should be held accountable. The whole point of life, in my view, is to help others, and eachother, and alleviate suffering wherever it is found (in people and animals) and try to replace it with love, peace, joy etc. It's not about a competition to see who is the most ethical, charitable etc. We should just all do what we can. Operation Ark was/is about that. Just one small thing people could do to rescue as many innocents (people and animals) as possible. That's all 🤷

WanderingFruitWonderer · 01/09/2021 08:41

Thanks @VeganVeg. I'm so glad to have some kindred spirits on these crazy threads. I honestly couldn't have coped without that ❤️

Piccalino3 · 01/09/2021 09:02

@WanderingFruitWonderer

I find the misunderstanding and misinformation surrounding this so upsetting. It's very hurtful for people to essentially accuse PF and Operation Ark supporters of not being bothered about people, when literally the opposite is the case. Operation Ark was about people and animals. With a strong emphasis on the people, including children. I care about both people and animals, as do most people who are sympathetic to Operation Ark that I know. Anyway, I don't think I can cope with it anymore! Busy day, and I'm going to try to devote my spare time to seeing what I can do to help with further rescue efforts going forward. I don't like engaging with these threads, and try to stay away, but when I see the injustice of the false allegations, I feel I have to balance that out with the truth. Of course the real injustice is the fact that so many innocent Afghan people have been betrayed by western governments, and that's the thing we should collectively be working to resolve. I don't have a quarrel with anyone on this thread. My quarrel is with the powers that be. But, I just find it so upsetting that blame is being cast on one brave man, rather than on those who really should be held accountable. The whole point of life, in my view, is to help others, and eachother, and alleviate suffering wherever it is found (in people and animals) and try to replace it with love, peace, joy etc. It's not about a competition to see who is the most ethical, charitable etc. We should just all do what we can. Operation Ark was/is about that. Just one small thing people could do to rescue as many innocents (people and animals) as possible. That's all 🤷
This is the best post on this thread.100% agree with every single thing you've said and I just can't understand how some people refuse to see this.