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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

This Pen Farthing guy

999 replies

TheGenealogist · 25/08/2021 10:54

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. Hmm 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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
IsayIsayBoy · 26/08/2021 09:05

08:57MakemeaCake

Parker231

The vets went to university for their training, the same as any veterinary students.

With all due respect, is a uni in Kabul the same as a vet school in the West and the UK?

You are seriously questioning the validity of veterinary qualifications at this point? I am absolutely incredulous at the lack of compassion!

meditrina · 26/08/2021 09:06

Money talks for Erik Prince who is charging $6500 for a seat on a charter plane out of Kabul - I don't hear anyone yapping about how he's taking up a slot for profit...At least Pen would be taking extra people for free!

a) it's all 'allegedly', 'reported that' and 'asked for comment' in the articles
b) as a military contractor (Blackwater) he was up to his neck in this
c) the 'service' appears to include fetching people and getting them in - plausible deniability springs to mind. I just don't think there is any way tat a privately chartered plane will be getting in, ahead of the queue if planes of all nationalities that are just waiting for the 'go'. Unless there were very special reasons indeed

Hillary Clinton is also chartering a plane, according to some versions of news reports today. She does appear to have been making phone calls to senior world leaders urging them to ensure that the risks to women are being fully taken in to consideration when assessing who is most at risk. The press seems a bit over excited with some aspects of reporting

Errno · 26/08/2021 09:07

I hope they have the courage to stand up to the pressure and make sure that people get out in order or priority. I hate the "who screams the loudest" gets to the front of the queue.

Seriously, how do you prioritise? Everyone needs to get out. Would you prefer the 200 odd people that he was going to take die because you don’t like him?

Be angry at Biden. Be angry at the bloke charging $6,500 per person. Be angry at all those responsible for this humanitarian catastrophe & their utter incompetence at getting the withdrawal right. Plenty of people to be angry at over this. But by willing Pen Farthing to fail because he’s galvanised the public & therefore media to help him & those he cares for, you are also unwittingly willing the failure of another 200 people to get out safely.

ancientgran · 26/08/2021 09:08

[quote TheAstronaut]**@ancientgran and @MakemeaCake are sitting comfortably behind their screen insulting / belittling/ nitpicking at people who have dedicated their lives to making the world better in very dangerous conditions and whose lives are currently in imminent danger

They are deeply unpleasant people. Don’t let them get to you, there’s lots of kind people around. 😊[/quote]
And are you sitting comfortably behind your screen insulting people because they dare to question statements made by this man?

TheQueef · 26/08/2021 09:08

@Handsoffstrikesagain

Do you honestly think that prior to his tweet the Taliban didn’t know where Pen and his staff were? Really? They are everywhere.
It isn't the Taliban I'm thinking of. It's known IS are in the area and looking to capitalise on the chaos. Now he's out his high profile self in the throngs of fleeing civilians with a big arrow.
IsayIsayBoy · 26/08/2021 09:09

Errno
Well said!

TheQueef · 26/08/2021 09:10

Xpost Handsoff

Handsoffstrikesagain · 26/08/2021 09:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

ancientgran · 26/08/2021 09:10

@Errno

I hope they have the courage to stand up to the pressure and make sure that people get out in order or priority. I hate the "who screams the loudest" gets to the front of the queue.

Seriously, how do you prioritise? Everyone needs to get out. Would you prefer the 200 odd people that he was going to take die because you don’t like him?

Be angry at Biden. Be angry at the bloke charging $6,500 per person. Be angry at all those responsible for this humanitarian catastrophe & their utter incompetence at getting the withdrawal right. Plenty of people to be angry at over this. But by willing Pen Farthing to fail because he’s galvanised the public & therefore media to help him & those he cares for, you are also unwittingly willing the failure of another 200 people to get out safely.

The first priority should be the people employed by the British gov/military and their families. They are going to be top of the hit list and we have a moral duty to them.

I understand there are over 20 millions women and children in Afghanistan, we can't get them all out.

How ridiculous to say I don't like him, I don't know him.

How do you feel about the people who won't get out because his people are getting priority ahead of people in more danger.

Handsoffstrikesagain · 26/08/2021 09:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

ComeonJulia · 26/08/2021 09:11

@DogFoodPie has got it spot on.

@TheGenealogist you’re very naive and clueless

Audit · 26/08/2021 09:13

[quote Teflondreams]**@ancientgran* and @MakemeaCake* are sitting comfortably behind their screen insulting / belittling/ nitpicking at people who have dedicated their lives to making the world better in very dangerous conditions and whose lives are currently in imminent danger

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.[/quote]
Yes, like a scene from a Monty Python film.

notimagain · 26/08/2021 09:16

Talking of charities and people working in very dangerous conditions and whose lives are in imminent danger…

www.gov.uk/government/news/support-for-veterans

TooOldandTired · 26/08/2021 09:17

Sorry I haven't read this thread but I am sick of reading tweets about this guy and his animals. All the people saying they have their own plane are ignoring all the logistics of getting the people and animals to the airport. Obviously they are realising now that it is not that easy to get into the airport. I'm so sick of reading tweets saying just get them into the airport to the govt, yeah like it's that easy, that is why people have been there for days waiting to get in.
I feel really sorry for Ben Wallace dealing with this shit when he is trying his best to get people out. Imagine you have a family member you are trying to get out of Kabul and your MP's inbox is full of messages about this guy and his animals.
Sorry but dogs aren't more important than people and the priority has to be getting people into the airport and onto planes. So for the thick cunts (as Ricky Gervais put it) it doesn't matter that the animals are going in the hold and not taking space on an airplane from people, the problem was always the logistics of getting them into the airport (obviously he was too thick to realise this or just didn't care).
Finally the UK aren't running the airport so can't just get flight slots whenever they want.

Pokhora · 26/08/2021 09:18

I thought we had a big shortage of vets in the UK due to the need for more border animal checks due to Brexit.

Handsoffstrikesagain · 26/08/2021 09:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

TheAstronaut · 26/08/2021 09:20

And are you sitting comfortably behind your screen insulting people because they dare to question statements made by this man?

When people are deliberately trying to turn people against someone who is trying to do good, I’ll call them out for it. It’s unkind, what are your motives here?
And Pen has never claimed to have fully trained people as vets. So it’s just rubbish.

CatsandOatcakes · 26/08/2021 09:23

If Pen had boarded earlier, on his own and left team and all the animals they were caring for he would have been called a callous bastard.

He cant win.

PrincessNutNuts · 26/08/2021 09:23

The Paras have been going out and bringing people to the airport for evacuation since the Taliban arrived in Kabul.

If they had been allowed to do so earlier like the French forces the job would now be done.

It's not Pen Farthing's fault that our government apparently saw this coming but did nothing about it.

Pen Farthing is doing his best to protect everyone he is responsible for.

If only the British government had done the same.

Errno · 26/08/2021 09:24

How do you feel about the people who won't get out because his people are getting priority ahead of people in more danger.

His people are in danger. They work for British ex commando.

The people who won’t be getting out, won’t be getting out because of Biden’s incompetence & disgraceful handling of the withdrawal. Not because of Pen Farthing. He pulled out the troops before getting all those under threat of the Taliban safely evacuated. He doesn’t even give a shit that he’s fucked up and will cost thousands of lives. He’s who I’m angry at. Oh & the bloke charging people fleeing for their lives. Pretty fucking angry at him too.

Knittingupastorm · 26/08/2021 09:24

I'm so sick of reading tweets saying just get them into the airport to the govt, yeah like it's that easy

I’d agree with this. The endless tweets saying “just let them in” “just open the gate!!” have seriously underestimated the complexity of the situation. He’s not waiting just a few steps outside, ready to walk in the second a gate is open, because he wouldn’t be able to get there due to the crowds. Crowds of people who’ve been there days and may very well have more need to get out.
And then there’s the serious terrorist threat.

TheAstronaut · 26/08/2021 09:27

The people who won’t be getting out, won’t be getting out because of Biden’s incompetence & disgraceful handling of the withdrawal. Not because of Pen Farthing.

Yes. Absolutely ridiculous to say that Pen is responsible for people not getting out.

TooOldandTired · 26/08/2021 09:29

If only the British government had done the same.

They are doing their best to get people out and they are not being helped my multiple resources being wasted on this shit.

And as for the he is a hero he is helping his people BS. He and his people could have left the animals a week ago and travelled to the airport and gotten out then but they didn't. I have no problem getting his people (or any people, as many as possible) out but the fact is his carry on has likely meant other PEOPLE will not get out because of his time wasting bullshit.

Why should the paras lead in a load of animals to the airport and leave people sitting outside, absolutely ridiculous.

notimagain · 26/08/2021 09:29

@Handsoffstrikesagain

Thank you for sharing that notimagain x
No probs….

Given some of gripes about the alleged lack of military/MOD assistance I’m getting close to a C&P of Kipling’s “Tommy” poem but maybe now is not quite the time.

ancientgran · 26/08/2021 09:30

@Errno

How do you feel about the people who won't get out because his people are getting priority ahead of people in more danger.

His people are in danger. They work for British ex commando.

The people who won’t be getting out, won’t be getting out because of Biden’s incompetence & disgraceful handling of the withdrawal. Not because of Pen Farthing. He pulled out the troops before getting all those under threat of the Taliban safely evacuated. He doesn’t even give a shit that he’s fucked up and will cost thousands of lives. He’s who I’m angry at. Oh & the bloke charging people fleeing for their lives. Pretty fucking angry at him too.

They are not going to be as big a target as the translators and why is his loyalty to his staff so commendable but if the govt/military want to show loyalty to their staff so unimportant?