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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you think ben wallace has done a bad job?

730 replies

Needapoodle · 27/08/2021 08:41

Loads of people on social media calling for Ben's (defence secretary) resignation over pen farthing and his operation ark.

I think ben and his department have suddenly been thrust into a highly volatile and constantly changing dangerous situation in which he has to make decisions for the good of the most amount of people possible. I also think that the insistence on evacuating hundreds of animals will undoubtedly have taken resources away from getting people out of Afghanistan and prevented human lives from being saved. I don't think that calling for ben's resignation over some animals not being able to be evacuated is reasonable at all. Or have i missed something?

OP posts:
StarfishDish · 27/08/2021 08:44

I agree. The issue wasn't the space for the animals, it was the time taken to process the animals that could have been used to process people instead.

Hopdathelf · 27/08/2021 08:46

I’m very much people before pets. I had sympathy for this chap initially but his bloody mindedness about the animals seems to be risking lives.

idontlikealdi · 27/08/2021 08:54

No I don't think he's done a bad job at all. Pen Farthing has put himself and staff in this situation, apparently he turned up at the American gate yesterday instead of the English gate.

I am very much an animal person but people have to take priority.

LadyGAgain · 27/08/2021 08:55

I agree with all of you above. Let's get the Afghans out first.

Lockheart · 27/08/2021 08:57

Unless any of us are on the ground in Kabul or directing military operations or are working in the MOD or are privy to govt information, I'm not sure any of us are qualified to say whether what he's done is good or bad in the circumstances.

I am personally a huge fan of Pen Farthing.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/08/2021 08:58

Today 08:55 LadyGAgain

I agree with all of you above. Let's get the Afghans out first“

Agree.

TheQueef · 27/08/2021 09:00

I don't think they had any other available options.
The entire withdrawal was doomed to fail but so was any occupation.

SerenShine · 27/08/2021 09:07

@StarfishDish

I agree. The issue wasn't the space for the animals, it was the time taken to process the animals that could have been used to process people instead.
I don't understand, why did the animals need processing? It's not as if their crudentials were being checked is it?

I just think its a desperately sad situation. As someone who has worked in animal rescue I completely understand why Pen did not want to leave the animals behind and admire him for fighting for them. To have got so close yesterday is heartbreaking.

Teamfemale · 27/08/2021 09:12

I don't think Pens primary aim was the animals, I think it was his staff but he knew that on SM people cared more about cats and dogs than humans.

He did his best to get his staff out
Ben Wallace did his best to get other people out and his soldiers safe

There are no winners or bad guys in this

Audit · 27/08/2021 09:12

I cannot see Ben Wallace has done anything wrong. He is uniquely qualified but has inherited a worst case scenario. Thousands of armchair warriors fuelled by self-importance and hidden through anonymity have decided to bully him. For no other reason than jump on the band wagon. There are some weird people in this world.

StarfishDish · 27/08/2021 09:16

@SerenShine I'm not 100% sure but I imagine they'd all need processing, what breed they are etc. I'm an animal lover but humans have got to come first.

Lindy2 · 27/08/2021 09:17

It's an impossible situation. The only good result, of getting everyone out who wants to leave, is impossible to achieve.

Pen organised his plane himself didn't he? Also, weren't they able to take some extra evacuees because they had his extra plane? I hope they were at least.

If Pen and the animals and staff didn't get out I expected by next week they'd have all been murdered. That would cause outrage too.

It's just such an awful situation.

Palavah · 27/08/2021 09:22

@Lockheart

Unless any of us are on the ground in Kabul or directing military operations or are working in the MOD or are privy to govt information, I'm not sure any of us are qualified to say whether what he's done is good or bad in the circumstances.

I am personally a huge fan of Pen Farthing.

Are you happy with some children now being abandoned to the Taliban so that some dogs could be put on a plane instead?
Petardos · 27/08/2021 09:24

Are you happy with some children now being abandoned to the Taliban so that some dogs could be put on a plane instead?

This was not the case. Keep up before you post non sense.

Caroloke · 27/08/2021 09:25

I think it's impossible to know without knowing all of the inner workings, I don't really like the try and force people to resign culture either really.

StarfishDish · 27/08/2021 09:25

@Lindy2

It's an impossible situation. The only good result, of getting everyone out who wants to leave, is impossible to achieve.

Pen organised his plane himself didn't he? Also, weren't they able to take some extra evacuees because they had his extra plane? I hope they were at least.

If Pen and the animals and staff didn't get out I expected by next week they'd have all been murdered. That would cause outrage too.

It's just such an awful situation.

@Lindy2 What would cause outrage is if people at the airport who have been there for days, saw animals getting priority onto a plane instead of people. Its an awful situation Sad
Petardos · 27/08/2021 09:26

Another one Jesús

Lockheart · 27/08/2021 09:31

@Palavah Are you happy with some children now being abandoned to the Taliban so that some dogs could be put on a plane instead?

Firstly, the dogs weren't put on the plane. Pen, his staff (including women and children), and the animals are still in Afghanistan.

Secondly, the dogs wouldn't have taken up seats which could have been used by people, they would be in the hold.

Like I said, not qualified to comment...

Lindy2 · 27/08/2021 09:32

Animals travel in the luggage hold not on the seats of the plane. They travelled in addition to humans not instead of - although obviously it was paperwork, admin time and a take off slot that was additional.

The staff at the refuge and their families were at risk too. Like almost every resident of Afghanistan right now, sadly.

StarfishDish · 27/08/2021 09:35

[quote Lockheart]**@Palavah* Are you happy with some children now being abandoned to the Taliban so that some dogs could be put on a plane instead?*

Firstly, the dogs weren't put on the plane. Pen, his staff (including women and children), and the animals are still in Afghanistan.

Secondly, the dogs wouldn't have taken up seats which could have been used by people, they would be in the hold.

Like I said, not qualified to comment...[/quote]
@Lockheart but the time taken to process the animals could present children leaving. I think that's what the PP is trying to say? Smile

ConstanceGracy · 27/08/2021 09:35

While I admire his love for animals Pen Farthing is a security risk and he is risking many lives by constantly updating social media with the current plans and telling everyone exactly where he and his staff are at that given moment or in the near future.
He seems very stupid for a ex marine .

Raxer26A · 27/08/2021 09:36

although obviously it was paperwork, admin time and a take off slot that was additional

/\ This.

Delphinium20 · 27/08/2021 09:39

I can't believe that Farthing guy is wasting Wallace's time when people are dying just trying to get to the airport. Why isn't Farthing spending his resources saving women and children, who are at a greater risk of maltreatment by the Taliban than cats and dogs. Farthing should be ashamed of himself for even asking.

Whinge · 27/08/2021 09:42

Why isn't Farthing spending his resources saving women and children, who are at a greater risk of maltreatment by the Taliban than cats and dogs.

Isn't that exactly what he was doing by trying to get his staff and their families out? Many have suggested that the animals were a way of highlighting the plight of his staff, and help them to get permission to leave.

Berkeys · 27/08/2021 09:45

Hi Mrs Wallace! Or has Ben got himself on MN now?

He has been petty, vindictive and unprofessional. Swearing live on air for goodness’ sake. That alone makes him unfit for office. He is certainly in breach of the Ministerial Code at this point. The man needs to go!