Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

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:
SofiaMichelle · 31/08/2021 13:07

Farthing is vile.

He's also thick as two short planks by the look of it as thinks he's also now going to somehow sue the MOD for defamation over his abusive call being leaked. You couldn't make it up.

inews.co.uk/news/real-life/pen-farthing-scapegoat-afghanistan-kabul-dogs-animals-ben-wallace-row-1173601

What an absolute pillock.

downinthedoldrums · 31/08/2021 13:08

Btw Ben wallace has sworn on live morning breakfast TV when describing his experience of Covid last year. Much less pressure, much more self pity, bit less swearing, but live on TV not on a private VM

saraclara · 31/08/2021 13:08

I thought the voicemail would have been reasonable without the F words,

So you were okay with the threats he made to that official?

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 31/08/2021 13:10

Sadly it seems many of the animals are riddled with disease and may have to be destroyed, so suffering to get here would all be for nothing.

saraclara · 31/08/2021 13:12

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

And as for all you pearl-clutchers frothing about his voicemail, how would you react in those circumstances? He swore, big deal.

This. Are all the posters criticising Pen really so perfect they wouldn't lose their temper?

I don't know about you, but I don't make threats to people when my emotions get the better of me. Do you?

Talk of swearing is a distraction from what he actually said to this guy. Which was that he intended to destroy him.

SpindleWhorl · 31/08/2021 13:16

Can we add Piers Morgan to the list? No real reason, I just loathe him. Oh and ditto for Dominic Cummings

I'll put them on a subsidiary list, @BanditoShipman, of people who can inflame any situation without breaking a sweat.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 31/08/2021 13:16

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

Sadly it seems many of the animals are riddled with disease and may have to be destroyed, so suffering to get here would all be for nothing.
Do you have a source for this?
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/08/2021 13:17

I don't know about you, but I don't make threats to people when my emotions get the better of me. Do you?

I don't tend to make threats but I have been known to lose my temper now and then. I'm not going to apologise for not being perfect though.

To be honest if I was in the same desperate situation as Pen Farthing, his staff and animals I wouldn't be too polite to some jumped up pillock blocking everything I was trying to do.

Parker231 · 31/08/2021 13:17

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

Sadly it seems many of the animals are riddled with disease and may have to be destroyed, so suffering to get here would all be for nothing.
The animals have been looked after by vets in Afghanistan and had all the required documentation. A vet from the U.K. travelled with them on the flight and vets checked them again when they arrived in the U.K. before going to quarantine.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/08/2021 13:18

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

Sadly it seems many of the animals are riddled with disease and may have to be destroyed, so suffering to get here would all be for nothing.
So the government have apparently said. They have been checked by vets and are perfectly healthy
Zenithbear · 31/08/2021 13:18

Absolutely 100% support for Pen Farthing.
He did what he could in a disgraceful haphazard situation.
Doesn't everyone use the F word now? Can't believe that is even mentioned.

Bogofftosomewherehot · 31/08/2021 13:18

@BoredZelda

The media have gone to town on Pen Farthing and as usual twisted a lot of the facts.

Which facts have they twisted?

He valued the lives of the animals over the people.
He threatened a government aide.
His staff were cleared to leave and he refused to let them go unless the animals went too.
Military troops were used to load, and unload the plane.
He distracted the people who’s job it was to get people out.

Which of those is untrue? Because most of them have been from sources sympathetic to him.

What a pile of complete and utter crap! They flew into Heathrow - SO many military troops there - not!!!! The Taliban wouldn't let his staff through.

@BoredZelda clearly need a new hobby - she's bored and spreading incorrect shit.

Stonerosie67 · 31/08/2021 13:18

I don't know about you, but I don't make threats to people when my emotions get the better of me. Do you?

In my normal, mundane, safe life then no, I don't. If, however, the Taliban were outside my door, the same organisation I had spent years fighting and to whom I had lost some of my men, whilst some penpushing jobsworth tried to stop my staff getting through to safety with me, then yes, you bet I absolutely would. How about you?

BFrazzled · 31/08/2021 13:19

@aprilanne

I get why some people are angry but a lot of pet owners would prioritize there dog or cat over human adult they dont know It may sound terrible but sometimes a pet has been there in the worsed of your life and you would do anything to save them no matter what others think
That’s in fact the other way around in this story: Pen’s supporters are people who prioritize the Afghan animals they only ever saw in pictures and videos to UK animals, Afghani people, UK poor etc. These animals are characters in a story created by Pen. Since they are some idealistic creation it is easy to sympathize with them I guess.
Leobynature · 31/08/2021 13:21

This thread is evidence that white people believe that the lives of animals are more important than brown people.

Bogofftosomewherehot · 31/08/2021 13:21

@Zenithbear

Absolutely 100% support for Pen Farthing. He did what he could in a disgraceful haphazard situation. Doesn't everyone use the F word now? Can't believe that is even mentioned.
yep and I wonder what atrocities he's seen in his years in the military whilst protecting this country - sure they deserve a few F bombs too. Maybe he should use words like "oh drat" or "fiddlesticks".
Medievalist · 31/08/2021 13:21

Sadly it seems many of the animals are riddled with disease and may have to be destroyed, so suffering to get here would all be for nothing.

' it seems ' ? What is your source?

Stonerosie67 · 31/08/2021 13:22

Pen’s supporters are people who prioritize the Afghan animals they only ever saw in pictures and videos to UK animals, Afghani people, UK poor etc. These animals are characters in a story created by Pen. Since they are some idealistic creation it is easy to sympathize with them I guess.

How staggeringly patronising. Aswell as being complete bullshit....

saraclara · 31/08/2021 13:22

To be honest if I was in the same desperate situation as Pen Farthing, his staff and animals I wouldn't be too polite to some jumped up pillock blocking everything I was trying to do.

So you know that guy, do you? Since you've decided that he's a "jumped up pillock" rather than a guy trying to do his job under the most enormous stress, and with any number of desperate people wanting his help every minute. And in the middle of that, dealing with all these desperate people in real danger, he gets an arrogant twat threatening to destroy him.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 31/08/2021 13:23

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

Stop spouting bullshit. Animals have to get cleared by a vet and have certain vaccinations before they can travel anywhere.

Peaseblossum22 · 31/08/2021 13:23

These animals are innocent and nearly all animal suffering is caused directly by humans, either through cruelty or neglect or habitat destruction. I have no issue with anyone trying to help animals live better lives.

Will their lives be better though? They will be in quite fine for 6 months at least and then kennelled in the U.K. some will die from the shock, change in circumstances . There is no proof that their lives will have been improved at all, this is a vanity project.

Polkadots2021 · 31/08/2021 13:23

[quote Sillysuzie]www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/30/britain-dogs-afghan-people-pen-farthing[/quote]
There's a man behind your cruel post, who has suffered horribly, could have been gunned down by the Taliban, left everything behind, and did everything he could to get his team out. He's obviously heartbroken he couldn't get them out but he did everything he could in the face of one of the most oppressive evils on the planet.

You did nothing to help, risked nothing, feared nothing, lost nothing, yet spend your time posting nasty stories. He's a good man, we could all learn a lot from him.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 31/08/2021 13:27

[quote SmidgenofaPigeon]@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

Stop spouting bullshit. Animals have to get cleared by a vet and have certain vaccinations before they can travel anywhere.[/quote]
Only quoting what i read in the papers, may or may not be bullshit but doubt that there was much going on in way of checks by vet etc in the desperate situation they were in trying to get out.

Bogofftosomewherehot · 31/08/2021 13:27

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes

Sadly it seems many of the animals are riddled with disease and may have to be destroyed, so suffering to get here would all be for nothing.
And where is the source of this information? They were checked by vets on arrival and that doesn't tally with what has been said. Plus, they'll be isolated for 4 months.
Bogofftosomewherehot · 31/08/2021 13:30

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes - you're talking shite. Is this your expert opinion formulated as you drink your morning coffee whilst reading some crap online from the comfort and safety of your comfortable life?

Swipe left for the next trending thread