Hello Sliema2, I read this with just a bit of intrest because it is about Malta. My own view is that every body has the right to protest about what ever they like, but the goverments of NATO also have the right to protect us as well.
Some times the do gooders of the world take things to far, you only have to look at what has happened since the cane was stopped at schools, or the banning of hard labour in prisons to see that the crime rate will never come down.
These ships do serve a perpose if only by some times stopping drug runners and illegal imigants and the likes, and I am sure the money the sailors put into the economy of Malta does not go amiss.

Dave

Hi Dave, with you 101% on law and order mate, what I do find hard to stomach is the illegal occupation of Iraq by coallition forces, why the united states and uk governments just can't admit that they want the oil is beyond me, just tell the truth for once thats all we want but thats them all over they wouldn't know the meaning of the word "honesty", originally it was to hunt for imaginary weapons of mass destruction which they never have found and never will find, but we all know where the real instruments of mass destruction really are they live in 10 Downing Street and the Whitehouse, I don't see why Maltese National Security and neutrality should be put at risk because of the actions of those two lunatics.

Regards
Sliema2

Time for a holiday!

I think you are probably very very right.

Regards
Sliema2

Hello Sliema2, God help poor old Tony if you ever met him on your travels, and as for Mr Bush well look out for WW111. Why not take next week of and go to Malta for a bit of a break it may just cool you down I am sure a bit of Lampuka pie and Kinnie will do the trick.
If not try going round St John's Co-Cathedral and see if you can find out who is in all of though's graves for me
Down with the do gooders.

Dave

Hi Dave, that sounds like a great idea mate, the thought of a week of sunshine, beer, bragiolis, fresh air and history is very inviting at the moment, now can somebody pass me the valium please.

Regards
Sliema2

Hello Sliema2 and Dave

one week today and I will be there yet again for 2 weeks and promise to have one of each of everything for you both "beer, bragiolis, Lampuka pie, Kinnie, fresh air, beer, bragiolis, history, beer and bragiolis" then I will start all over again just in case i missed something

Will think of you all shoveling snow while I am there

Well Alan what can one say, have a great time but have two for me as I may well need them with all this snow.

Dave.

Hi Sliema2,

Best stay off politics!!!!!

My wife and son as you know were in Malta last week. Weather was excellent and they had a great time. Lots of kinnie, honey rings etc etc I think they had the best February week this year because looking at the weather now and on the live webcams it looks wet and windy at the moment,

Trev

I well remember the time when the royal navy ships were eagerly waited on. the upper barracca was full of maltese waving there union flags and i think the local trader's quite liked the money the matelot's spent too.

inselli ghalik

alan

Well if it's really going to upset Maltese folks if any of our Royal Navy ships 'drop in' I think it best if we keep away. I don't think we should visit anywhere we're not welcome!

Trev

I fully agree with what Trev' has said however it is still only a minority that does not welcome war ships of any other nations visiting. Lets not allow the minorities spoil it for the rest of the people who look forward to viewing these ships.

Hello, there is not one Royal Navy ship in this floatila, they are a NATO ships on the same side but still disliked by about 20 people out of 300.000 and as I put before, somebody has to have a moan are we would all be the same.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Didn't realise that none of these NATO ships visiting Malta were ours! Nevertheless I still think that we should keep our military away from anywhere they are not welcome unless these places offer a threat to the UK or its dwindling dependencies. Surely that's the prime reason why our 'little' Country spends millions to maintain a military force?

Trev

Hello Trev, I agree to agree but are these ships not welcome, as Alan (happychef) put it there was a time when they more than welcome, and I am sure that the local (British Pubs) on the island more than wecome a few sailors out of the holiday season.
Is it a case that the Minority ruin it for the Majority yet again, I feel sure that if something bad (hopefully not) did happen to Malta would it nice for the Maltese to know that we and NATO would be there to help if they needed it.
Anyway Trev do you know any good pubs to go to when we get there this July we are staying on the Strand, may go up to St Julian's for a sing song some nights but most of the time we will be in Sliema.

Dave

Hi Dave,

On an early visit to Sliema in 1981, we went on the Captain Morgan harbour sightseeing cruise. I can remember as the boat passed one ship the crew were jeering and making 'gestures'. I asked what was going on and one of them said that it was an unwelcome Russian navy ship!

Can't say I was concerned but thinking about it they were obviously feeling hostile towards this ship which I doubt offered any threat whatsoever. Mind you the cold war was still going on then and there were a lot of James Bond type spy films about..........

Trev