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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:
SueSaid · 27/08/2021 15:40

'They were waiting outside for hours before this entry criteria changed.''

Some were waiting days.

IAmSuperman · 27/08/2021 15:44

Some were waiting days.

Well aware. My answer was in response to a post to explain their timeline stated was wrong.

Baluchistan95 · 27/08/2021 15:47

I agree. Between a rock and a hard place.

SueSaid · 27/08/2021 16:04

@IAmSuperman

Some were waiting days.

Well aware. My answer was in response to a post to explain their timeline stated was wrong.

Yes but it you're suggesting if they hadn't been kept waiting hours they would have got through before the horrific attack and then Biden changing the rules. Waiting hours at least was always going to happen that is why they should have got there on Tues as soon as all the staff had clearance.

Will you ever admit they left it too late? 'Operation Ark' was absolutely a lovely idea but 100% unrealistic and has jeopardised the lives of everyone involved when they could all have been back on an RAF transport flight tue.

Screwyoularry · 27/08/2021 16:14

I think he's done a good job in very difficult circumstances. The Embassy staff involved have worked incredibly hard to process visas and the amount of people they have managed to evacuate is amazing. Now let's get as many more people out in these last few hours & get our military out of there & home asap.

Tele12345 · 27/08/2021 16:18

@Screwyoularry

I think he's done a good job in very difficult circumstances. The Embassy staff involved have worked incredibly hard to process visas and the amount of people they have managed to evacuate is amazing. Now let's get as many more people out in these last few hours & get our military out of there & home asap.
Agree with this
IAmSuperman · 27/08/2021 16:23

If Wallace hadn’t delayed in the previous days they could have left with their animals long ago. Wallace had to be put in his place by Boris in the end. These animals are more than pets and Pen and the staff chose to wait until they could take them. It was never an option for Pen and the Nowzad staff to leave without them. Those people stand for their charity. People are underestimating what these animals have done for service people. You may think ‘they’re just animals’ but they mean so much more to service people and to Pen and the staff. I think that’s hard for many to grasp. There is a US serviceman on twitter who has talked about how his dog got him through his time in a warzone. Along with Pen knowing the UK is very racist, but animal loving, it’s easy to see why he didn’t leave without them.

notimagain · 27/08/2021 16:32

If Wallace hadn’t delayed in the previous days they could have left with their animals long ago.

The much rumored wet lease aircraft doesn’t seem to have been organised until very late Wednesday early Thursday.

IAmSuperman · 27/08/2021 16:37

The much rumored wet lease aircraft doesn’t seem to have been organised until very late Wednesday early Thursday.

Whilst they were waiting for paperwork to be in order. But my understanding is they just needed to make a call to say they were ready, it was all arranged just needed to give definite day.

SueSaid · 27/08/2021 16:39

'You may think ‘they’re just animals’ but they mean so much more to service people and to Pen and the staff'

I'm sure they mean a lot but so do people's homes and families and many have left them behind, it was a luxury to try and get animals out.

It is very sad. I love animals but even I can see evacuating them in a deteriorating situation was taking attention away from more worthy causes and putting people at risk.I doubt 'Pen knows the UK is very racist' at all, compared to where he has been living it is a country of diversity and inclusivity.

IAmSuperman · 27/08/2021 16:46

I'm sure they mean a lot but so do people's homes and families and many have left them behind, it was a luxury to try and get animals out.

I understand that. I’m just saying why these animals mean so much to them and why they have gone so far to get the animals out.

Of course Pen knows the UK is racist, the world knows it is.

SueSaid · 27/08/2021 17:02

'Of course Pen knows the UK is racist, the world knows it is.'

Oh superman, how bitter you sound. There is racism everywhere we know that but this country is more diverse and inclusive than most. What they are trying to escape is a bigoted, xenophobic, misogynistic ideology with the very brutal sharia law. You need some perspective.

Screwyoularry · 27/08/2021 17:04

How has this crisis become about 1 man who made a choice to be there?. I have a serving family member there & with every extra day they are in more danger. They did not choose to be there, they did not turn down the chance to leave when offered. This man made a choice, yes it was a difficult one but a choice none the less. The Taliban are in charge they say who gets through & who doesn't. In a dangerous situation you either take the opportunity offered to you or you accept what may come along with that choice.

IAmSuperman · 27/08/2021 17:10

Oh superman, how bitter you sound. There is racism everywhere we know that but this country is more diverse and inclusive than most. What they are trying to escape is a bigoted, xenophobic, misogynistic ideology with the very brutal sharia law. You need some perspective.

I’m very sad for the Afghan people. I’m also very aware the UK is full of racists. Of course coming here is preferable than staying under a Taliban rule. But Pen would know that it’s hard to get lots of British people onside, you don’t need to go far to hear/read comments about people not wanting Afghan people here. There was a thread last week with people saying ‘we don’t want them, we can’t even see a gp and we have homeless people, who’s paying, we’ve got enough in Kent’ etc. They were laying into people who had kindly offered a room to a refugee because ‘you should be helping British homeless people.’ I have perspective but you have to be real. Racism is common and Pens animals diverted people’s attention.

Dillyjones72 · 27/08/2021 17:38

‘I'm sure they mean a lot but so do people's homes and families and many have left them behind, it was a luxury to try and get animals out.’

Unsurprisingly the U.K. government chose to ignore the pressure from B list celebs on Twitter about saving a load of animals and focused on the lives of people who were in imminent and mortal danger.

Bythemillpond · 27/08/2021 17:50

Unsurprisingly the U.K. government chose to ignore the pressure from B list celebs on Twitter about saving a load of animals and focused on the lives of people who were in imminent and mortal danger

But isn’t this what the chartered plane was for. The animals and Pen, his staff and anyone extra that could be taken from the queue

If they really wanted to get people out I would have thought check for weapons snd bombs etc get people on the plane and do the checking when they land. If there are any undesirables then they go back on a returning flight.

snowballer · 27/08/2021 17:51

https://twitter.com/defencehqpress/status/1431297919399993347?s=21

Update. This damn "pets" thing.

I don't know what this means for his staff though

To ask if you think ben wallace has done a bad job?
Screwyoularry · 27/08/2021 17:54

@Bythemillpond

Unsurprisingly the U.K. government chose to ignore the pressure from B list celebs on Twitter about saving a load of animals and focused on the lives of people who were in imminent and mortal danger

But isn’t this what the chartered plane was for. The animals and Pen, his staff and anyone extra that could be taken from the queue

If they really wanted to get people out I would have thought check for weapons snd bombs etc get people on the plane and do the checking when they land. If there are any undesirables then they go back on a returning flight.

Yes, that sounds like a sensible & realistic plan. Ok can you please but your hand up & let us know if you are are a terrorist so we can arrange to fly you back.
Dragon50 · 27/08/2021 18:12

Would the U.K. even be able to fly them back?

I thought Afghanistan was off the deportation list?

Brighterblighter · 27/08/2021 18:15

10000 a have been waiting days, inside and outside the airport.

I think the UK has done an OK job from a very very hard position....

Brighterblighter · 27/08/2021 18:24

"along with own knowing that the UK is very racist," Hmm

Really? Its not perfect but its far better than many counties out there.. Why doesn't he go to one of the neighbours countries then.

IAmSuperman · 27/08/2021 18:42

Really? Its not perfect but its far better than many counties out there.. Why doesn't he go to one of the neighbours countries then.

And there you go.

Teamfemale · 27/08/2021 18:52

I think the UK has done the best they can in a hideous situation.

Apart from Dominic Raab.

He needs to be sacked. It reports are true we lost valuable time getting people out whilst he was on his jollies.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/08/2021 19:19

i think the whole fuss about this animal charity is appalling and makes me ashamed to be a pet loving brit

Doodlebug71 · 27/08/2021 19:23

@Whinge

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.

This. He tried to get his staff out. Educated women aren't appreciated by the Taleban, much less Daesch/ISIS.

So much vitriol directed against a man trying to save people.

Farthign offered the 130 "extra" seats on his plane for anyone who could sit on them.

I'm one of many watching what's happening out there. That's all.