This Pen Farthing guy

[TheGenealogist]

The bloke with the animal shelter in Kabul.

Refusing to leave unless he can take ALL of his 60 odd staff and ALL of his 200+ cats and dogs with him. Expecting the government to make special rules for him and his friends.

Getting people out - understandable. The Taliban aren't going to look kindly on people who have translated for the military, or "collaborated" in other ways. But staff at an animal shelter?

And as for the refusing to leave without the animals and making this all out to be the UK government's fault? For not falling over themselves to arrange transport for a bunch of ownerless animals nobody wants when there are human beings in fear of their lives?

What is this guy playing at?

@DancesWithTortoises gives you a good idea of people’s opinions though doesn’t it? Of course that doesn’t fit your narrative. And you don’t help your argument asking why is the sky blue? There’s a scientific reason for that 😂 not just because it is 😬. No I don’t go around killing things, why would I want to do that? This member of humanity chooses not to do that. Carry on trying to justify your because that’s how it is argument, I’m off to GOOGLE to read up on why the sky is blue (I’ll be disappointed if it says “because that’s how it is)

No way will anyone stay. UK etc

Taleban have got control very fast. They are in charge.

There are (well as of two days ago) some Afghan army forces still gaining ground and fighting in I think it was the north. They will fight to death. They're dead anyway.

Already women have been told to stop work and go home. Same as before.

Do some posters really believe that a cat or a dog let onto the street is at risk from the taleban? Like so many people are? They are hardly on the lookout for cats that collaborated fgs

They target humans. They are brutal.

Public executions. In a football stadium. Flogging on the street. Amputation of limbs. No education for girls. Women not allowed to go outside without a male family member. If no male. No money. No food no nothing.

No chance.

20 years of more freedom. Education Jobs. And now. If as before which I mean it's going to be.

Young people girls and boys. Just hellish. Hellish for everyone there.

Women and girls are CHATTEL. They are LOWER than animals to the taleban.

The taleban aren't going to publicly hang a dog for being here or there dressed wrong etc etc.

I think the question of animals on board is in danger of diverting us all from the fact that human lives will be saved by him doing this.

I don’t know why that has attracted so much vitriol from some people.
We have to hope for the best outcomes for the greatest number of people and do what we can from where we are.

I really can't see how they will get on that plane

@Peacrock

Is that supposed to be somehow insulting

Nope, I've been a vegan for many years, I just suspect there are a tonne of hypocrites which is always amusing. All animals matter, erm unless I want to eat them or by products from where they've been exploited.

im not one of those people , i only buy cruelty free products and that includes household products , and im vegan , yes there are hypocrites i agree , but i hope that these people that profess to love animals will look at how animals are killed and exploited for us humans and think that they will change their own behaviour accordingly , it wasnt until i got our first houserabbits and became friends with a fellow bunny owner who was a vegan and posted a lot on her page that it opened my eyes fully

You have articulated exactly what I think in a far more eloquent way than I ever could

[Flowers].

I bet you could do its with less expletives and typos though .

And actual too...

And I get it I really do. Why animals are preferred to humans. Why they are seen as innocents when humans even small children are not.

It's a thing often said about the English (I don't know about other countries) that many prefer animals to people.

I honestly do get it.

The bit I find difficult is the lack of acknowledgment what the situation will be for the humans under their regime.

I mean. I totally agree that humans are arrogant when it comes to our place on the planet etc. And that we are capable of terrible things.

What I can't get past is the idea that other mammals/ animals are somehow 'better' than humans.

And to ignore the atrocities that will be visited on the Afghanil population. Again.

FWIW I have no idea who is involved in the master plan but one of Kam Air’s A340s has visible on the ground at Kabul on flight radar, generally a sign a flight is in the process of getting ready to depart.

I’m listening to Talk Radio right now (Kevin O’Sullivan show) from 7pm. He has been talking with Pen almost every evening over the past fortnight....and there is apparently ‘positive news regarding Operation Ark’ which will be announced during the show.

@Pinotpleasure

I’m listening to Talk Radio right now (Kevin O’Sullivan show) from 7pm. He has been talking with Pen almost every evening over the past fortnight....and there is apparently ‘positive news regarding Operation Ark’ which will be announced during the show.

I hope so. He has not been able to get Pen on this week at all so far. Hoping for a good announcement tonight.

'No I don’t go around killing things, why would I want to do that? This member of humanity chooses not to do that.'

You sweep in front of you as you go like some Buddhist monks?
You don't / wouldn't do anything about headlice?
If you had a bacterial disease you wouldn't get it treated?
Worms?

I mean. That's not true is it.

You have a line the same as anyone else.

Unless I mean. You look at things about infestations that cause blindness etc and think yep the diversity of nature is great.

I assume the animals looked after would have been treated for ticks, lice, other parasites. Is that wrong then?

I mean. All animals are equal and you'd never kill any. Right. I bet you would fast if you had a parasitic infection that would immobilise you. Or a pet was going to go blind.

Such drivel tbh.

Is that supposed to be somehow insulting 😂

Also laughable how quickly and frequently people are hitting the report button. How we all loved the '''I'm telling'' kids

Most of his staff are women and qualified vets they have worked for a UK citizen they would be murdered by the Taliban no question despite what everyone says their lives would be in danger, and animal welfare is appalling in the middle east the animals who he has rescued from the streets would be put down so why should innocent animals suffer even more if he has the means to get them out, the other main rescue in Kabul is American based and they have been given all the help they can get from America , what is sad is that after the rescue paople either leave or have no power in Afganistan animal welfare in that country will revert to appalling levels and Boris Johnson has overridden the other guy and they will be coming to the UK and he has said he can bring 100 extra people with them so hes not totally self serving

@Pinotpleasure

I’m listening to Talk Radio right now (Kevin O’Sullivan show) from 7pm. He has been talking with Pen almost every evening over the past fortnight....and there is apparently ‘positive news regarding Operation Ark’ which will be announced during the show.

praying and hoping

I hope so. He has not been able to get Pen on this week at all so far. Hoping for a good announcement tonight

I so desperately hope this is true. I'm usually a bit of a misanthropist and it takes a lot to impress me but I think Pen is bloody amazing for all he has done and is doing. The world needs a lot more people like him, ones who actually do and achieve things rather than those who just sit around, watch and judge. People with the substance, loyalty and compassion he has shown in all this.

FWIW I have no idea who is involved in the master plan but one of Kam Air’s A340s has visible on the ground at Kabul on flight radar, generally a sign a flight is in the process of getting ready to depart.

Kam Air have been flying in 2-3 planes daily. What I have noticed is the sudden reduction of US planes today. It may be they have turned off GPS. The RAF planes have increased though and turnaround times also.

Only the US are running the airport now. As we approach the deadline, the US will restrict flights into the airport to allow as much clearance to evacuate their own forces. Under Biden's mandate, there will be little in the way of collaboration with other states and organisations in the final hours. It will then collapse like a black hole. Flights sympathetic to the Taleban in will come from Pakistan and other close states. News coming out of Afghanistan will almost cease.

Pure attention seeker. You can tell he’s just loving it all.

@Shanghaisprize

I hope so. He has not been able to get Pen on this week at all so far. Hoping for a good announcement tonight

I so desperately hope this is true. I'm usually a bit of a misanthropist and it takes a lot to impress me but I think Pen is bloody amazing for all he has done and is doing. The world needs a lot more people like him, ones who actually do and achieve things rather than those who just sit around, watch and judge. People with the substance, loyalty and compassion he has shown in all this.

I could not agree with you more. We need more people like Pen in the world for sure. He could have up and left ages ago, and was allowed to. He didn't. I just can't believe anyone would criticise what he is trying to do.

The people should be evacuated if possible of course.

The current situation is that loads of those who will be seen as collaborators and executed. Even with full paperwork. Are not being allowed through.

They will be executed.

Will the taleban really be hunting down animals from his refuge? No.

Cats and dogs are very well adapted. I've been to places where there were packs of stays. They are scary. Cats I mean. Well they're excellent predators.

I can't get how they need help more than the people. It's the humans that are at risk with this.

Getting his staff out yes 100%.

The animals too?

Like I say. It's an emotional thing and the two perspectives here will never meet.

@Audit

FWIW I have no idea who is involved in the master plan but one of Kam Air’s A340s has visible on the ground at Kabul on flight radar, generally a sign a flight is in the process of getting ready to depart.

Kam Air have been flying in 2-3 planes daily. What I have noticed is the sudden reduction of US planes today. It may be they have turned off GPS. The RAF planes have increased though and turnaround times also.

Only the US are running the airport now. As we approach the deadline, the US will restrict flights into the airport to allow as much clearance to evacuate their own forces. Under Biden's mandate, there will be little in the way of collaboration with other states and organisations in the final hours. It will then collapse like a black hole. Flights sympathetic to the Taleban in will come from Pakistan and other close states. News coming out of Afghanistan will almost cease.

The taleban also have a lot of military capability. Ground to air missiles- they did before

DH was showing me last night the USA have just left loads of serious equipment. Lying around. Attack helicopters etc

When the taleban say no more planes that's that.

Biden and his casual 10 days statement has fucked things appallingly.

Kam Air have been flying in 2-3 planes daily. What I have noticed is the sudden reduction of US planes today. It may be they have turned off GPS. The RAF planes have increased though and turnaround times also.

Yep there’s been a reduction today, maybe that’s freed things up a bit and finally might allow room for other traffic

FWIW as aside, the GPS being off doesn’t aircraft appearing on Flightradar, it can however effect the accuracy of the aircraft’s displayed position on the map.

I just can't believe anyone would criticise what he is trying to do.

Exactly, the one person to criticise is Biden. His mandate set in motion events that will cost lives. I don't think you can get closer than this article.....

www.nytimes.com/2021/08/25/opinion/afghanistan-taliban-army.html

@EverybodyIsInteresting

I don't think it matters what anyone says, you won't change your mind on this. I'm not sure why you posted in aibu.

He's done all the organising. He's paid for the flight. He clearly cares about the animals otherwise he wouldn't have an animal shelter in the first place.

He doesn't need the UK government to care about the animals. Let's face it, we all know that don't care much for most people. Look at the way they treated the Windrush Generation. He just needs permission for the flight and occupants to get here. It's not a lot to ask in the circumstances.

Exactly ☝️ Just another example of people trying to find fault with someone who is at least trying to do something! I wonder what anyone who is criticising him has done to help. What they have actually done that might or might not make a difference. We really love to tear people down don't we 🙄

Various sources:

'Another official said that while there are no definitive numbers yet, the current intelligence assessment was that the Taliban are believed to control more than 2,000 armored vehicles, including U.S. Humvees, and up to 40 aircraft potentially including UH-60 Black Hawks, scout attack helicopters, and ScanEagle military drones.'

'Similar scenes have been repeated across the country: In the weeks before the Taliban seized Kabul, retreating Afghan forces ditched billions of dollars' worth of U.S.-supplied military hardware — from assault rifles to Black Hawk helicopters.

The Taliban wasted no time in gloating over their new war booty. Photos and video posted to social media show Taliban posing with captured aircraft, trucks, Humvees, artillery guns and night-vision goggles. Such equipment could be used to suppress internal dissent or fight off their rivals.'

Etc etc