GIBRALTAR

[Pilgrim Norway]

Good shout Yorkie ...

Yupp! Already done it from here …before our power went off…
Nice reply too – so everyone else – get involved and be counted!

Anyone here old enough to remember Blurrs’s paters choice of Party ???
Representative for where ? and which party did you say ?

If Gib was to given to Royal the Corps could avoid having members lie
down on Southsea beach to gain a uniform tan if asked to guard Buck House again....

Gib stays free - No handovers - We were there first - Was it Kilroy?

[bootneck]

a couple of links with regards to our illustrious leader, president blaaaiiiirrrr. click on the links,

http://www.dwilkinson.fsbusiness.co.uk/

http://www.blamegovernment.co.uk/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl

http://www.urban75.com/Punch/blair.html

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_206127.html

the third one is where you get to punch our tony, pity he doesn`t get to feel it. Gibraltar is not British, its Royals, now F*"K off tony. sorry for any offence caused to any of you. I think the feeling of Gibraltar is running a little high, had a few good runs ashore in Gib, doubt whether any spanish have ever had a good run ashore.

save the Fearless

[bootneck]

you could try this one as well

http://www.theditchblairproject.co.uk/

[Sea Soldier]

So Blunkett has effectively de-criminalised Cannabis .... this means that whilst most of the Country are stoned out of their heads,enjoying their new found "liberation" .... the Blair Junta can sneak any amount of shabby tricks through Parliament & folk will say "Hey,chill man,whatever" .... coincidence,or what ??

And what is it about Spanish speaking people,that makes them want to grab bits of British real estate ?? .... It'll be the Isle of Wight next,you watch !

And whilst I have no feelings,one way or t'other re Morrocco,it's interesting to see the Spanish reaction to the "invasion" of one of their islands .... bet El Presidente will only poke his neb in there to support his Spanish oppos .... possibly He & K9 are tired of Tuscan villas & are looking for someone in Spain to ponce freebie holidays from ?

Spleens,venting by numbers "TWO" !!

[bootneck]

this is off the NO10 website, from the foreign secretary jack shyte, oops straw, dated 12/07/02

‘A BETTER FUTURE FOR GIBRALTAR’ (12/07/02)
The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, today made a statement about Gibraltar in the House of Commons. He said that the Government decided to relaunch the 'Brussels Process' in July 2001 because 'the status quo was damaging Gibraltar and Britain'. He continued: 'The only way of securing for Gibraltar a stable and prosperous future is through a comprehensive and permanent settlement'. Mr Straw set out the phases of the process on which the Government was embarked. If Britain and Spain were able to agree the framework of a new permanent settlement, then this would be published as a Joint Declaration. In a second phase, the Government of Gibraltar would again be invited to join the British and Spanish Governments in working out 'a comprehensive package, including a new draft Treaty’, based on the Joint Declaration. Mr Straw made clear that ‘the UK would ratify such a Treaty only after securing the consent of the Gibraltarians in a referendum’. Mr Straw said that the UK 'and Spain are in broad agreement on many of the principles that should underpin a lasting settlement', including that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar; that Gibraltar should have more internal self-government; and that Gibraltarians should retain their right to British nationality, as well as their institutions and British way of life. 'A settlement on these lines would offer Gibraltar and its people a great prize', he added. However, he said that the UK 'and Spain have not yet resolved all differences ... the agreement has to be permanent. Gibraltar has to have certainty.' The Foreign Secretary concluded: 'we are now closer than ever before to overcoming 300 years of fraught history. A better future for Gibraltar - more stable, secure and prosperous - is too important to let slip'.

the biggest load of B*^^"%ks I`ve ever heard, this is the gov`ts way of saying we`re stabbing you in the back. in ten days time, it`ll be the 298th aniversary of one of the finest battle honours in military history, and a room full of cretins are planning to sell the Gibraltarians down the river. I recon we should all contact our local MP`s and give them some grief, its the least we can do,

[Sea Soldier]

Bootneck,
I totally agree with your assessment of Straw's statement & if I thought that for one minute,contacting my,or any other MP,for that matter,would make a blind bit of difference ... I'd do it like greased weasel shit !

BUT ... don't forget,they're all in it together ... they have all "been" something else & f****d it up.before becoming MP's & are now enjoying massive perks etc,so they aren't going to rock the boat .... sadly,no matter what their political complexion,they all have more "faces" than a box of kippers !

I once wrote to my MP & tried to point out the damage his party were doing to my particular trade,when they were last in power ... the scrote didn't even have the courtesy to reply but still came knocking on the door in support of "His" man in the local elections! ..... I will leave it to your imagination as to the kind of reception he got !!

Even one of Labours own (Kate Hoey) says in todays papers "What's really shaken me is My Government's infifference to the views of ordinary people" ... but she knows enough not to go too far,in case she ends up with a P45 & looking for a "proper" job !

They even had the gall to set up an official "Sleaze buster" & then did everything in their power to obstruct,undermine,intimidate & finally destroy her!

I'd like to believe somone in Parliament could make a difference ... but I won't hold my breath !

Cheers all,

[Pilgrim Norway]

To think that a lad (HE) of such good conservative Northern upbringing could think up something like the Gib sellout.

Jack S’s “explanation” for us common folk resembles the beads and mirrors of Man a Hattan island in the US of A.
I’ve always had a canny awareness and pricking of the thumbs when some ‘authority’ has explained the benefits of giving some part of me (or my heritage) away.

When Norway was invited to the EU table – and politely refused – it turned out afterwards that Spain had already divvied up the Fishing Rights and
contemplated the future divvying up of the oily stuff too! ( The chart appeared in several newspapers!). Spain was out after better fishing rights before the EU Sell out occurred of course. Knowing the nature of things I suppose that they’ll claim the island in Saltwell Park next.

P.S. Norway is still not a member – though some of our Government, when Labour, decided that they should be more EU than EU - and adopt “changes to our common advantage”
– We therefore experience strict observation of the most bizarre rulings.

[bootneck]

would it hurt contacting the press? once they got hold of it and let the public know what blair and his cronies are up to, surely that would shed a different light on the matter? I know the press know that blair is giving it to spain, shared sovereignty or not, but do the public know how we got it? the Battle, the Lives, the Pride we, as Royal Marines, have in the name, that only appears on OUR Corps Crest, maybe we could enlist the efforts of the Dutch, after all, they fought alongside us. Its only a thought, but with another ally, it may just make the difference.

what say ye all??

[bootneck]

Yorkiemarine,
I totaly agree with you regards that all MP`s are a bunch of rotten apples in one barrel, who can we trust? maybe a coup?

[Andy O'Pray]

That might not be such a bad idea bootneck. I doubt if many in the press make the connection between the Royal Marines and Gibraltar. With the positive image given to the Corps in the press, some young journalists trying to make a name for themselves, might just run with it. At least it would bring it to the publics attention and enlighten them as to Britain's connection with the Rock.

Aye - Andy.

[Sea Soldier]

Wot Ho' Lads,
Good idea re the Press,having been "outside" for a long time now,& not up to speed with service politics,how much support might we expect from the Corps,in publicising our unique links with the Rock ?

I think I'm right in saying that we are the only British Regiment/Corps to display the name "Gibraltar" on our Corps Crest & Colours (unless someone more knowledgeable,knows of another)

The Press are already aware that the "fix" has gone in,as was pointed out in Sundays papers,Straw will offer the Gibraltarians joint Sovereignty,which they will overwhelmingly reject ... then when Spain increases its illegal interference with Air,Telecommunications & Cross Border links ... which the residents will have every right to complain to the Foreign Office about, he can wash his hands,saying in effect "You were offered a good deal,but didn't want to know".
The poor sods have been shafted & the Government will just walk away (as they always do) saying "Not our fault".

I honestly reckon,the only thing that might make the Government take stock,is the possibility that this betrayal could cost them votes ... but it would need a groundswell of public opinion to do that ... so maybe,that's where the Press could be of use. BUT, .... they would need to be treated with caution,remember the old saying,that "He who sups with the Devil,needs a long spoon" !

Any other useful ideas/suggestions are welcome

Cheers

[Andy O'Pray]

Hi Yorkiemarine,

I would suggest that you would not receive any overt support from the Corps. Serving military and politics is a no no. It would require someone, not serving, with connection to the press to make the initial contact, someone who can put a nostalgic, yet democratic face on it.

Is this not what it is all about, democracy. The British tax payer has spent billions and a greater cost in lives and suffering to protect democracy in NI. A british government again spent a fortune in both monetary and human terms to protect democracy in the Falkland Islands. We have troops in Afghanistan, in the name of democracy. Where is the democracy with reference to Gibraltar, where the wishes of the vast majority of the people are being ignored.

Aye - Andy.

[bootneck]

hi all, I`ve just e-mailed the sun, with the following, got to get this ball rolling

Hi, my name is bootneck, and I served in the Royal Marines for Twelve years. I like many other former, and serving Marines, I am gutted at the way tony blair and his cronies, are going to hand over sovereignty to the Spanish. I think Britain, is the leading country with regards to democracy, so why are the people of Gibraltar being ignored, and not allowed to have THEIR say, about THEIR Country, Blair is becoming a bit of a dictator, he should remember that it is the people of this fine Country, who put him there,( and I can assure you, I wasn`t one of them) and it will be the people who get him out. The Royal Marines have an alliegiance with Gibraltar, back in 1704, (24th July) the British and Dutch Marines fought side by side to take the Rock. the Battle was hard fought, with many lives being lost. it is the 298th anniversary this month, and the Gov`t want to give it away. Gibraltar costs the British taxpayer nothing, it is a self supporting country. I think that by bringing this to light, the British public could help the Gibraltarians big time. just look at the strategic position, the gateway to the Med, and who`s on the other side of the Med, the spanish, didn`t like it when their island was (for want of a better word) invaded. So we are asking the Sun, A High Profile Paper, read by all, and not afraid to tell the Truth, for their help in keeping Gibraltar British. there are a couple of links, you can check out some of the views, by former Royal Marines, and the second is for the Gibraltar Gov`t. thanks for taking the time to read this, I only hope you can find the time to follow it up.


viewtopic.php?p=4405#4405


http://support.gibraltar.gov.uk/default.asp

this may seem funny to a civvie, but Gib meant that much to me, I got married on the 24th July,

[bootneck]

all you booties know this, but for the other services who come aboard, this is how our fellow Marines had their first run ashore in Gib,

24 July 1704 - The Capture of Gibraltar
The famous attack on Gibraltar, which led to its surrender to the British on the 24 July 1704 was carried out by a brigade of British and Dutch Marines, 1,800 strong, under the command of Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. In the following October, Gibraltar was besieged by the French and Spanish. The Marine brigade, which had been reinforced shortly before by a further 400 Marines form the British fleet, held the fortress against repeated attacks until the siege was raised on 9 March 1705. In one incident in the fighting, Captain Fisher of the Marines with 17 of his men, successfully defended the Round Tower against the continual assaults of 500 French Grenadiers. A Contemporary report of this noted defence says: 'Encouraged by the Prince of Hesse, the garrison did more than could be humanly expected, and the English Marines gained immortal glory'.


we may have gained Immortal Glory, but the Gibraltarians will get Immortally shafted,


to Gibraltar, may she long be British,

[Sea Soldier]

Well done & said "Bootneck" .... nice explanation,for our non Corps visitors, ... we can but hope that your valiant efforts bear fruit & that the People of Gibraltar are made aware that they still have a lot of friends in UK ! (even if most of them are/were "Green lidded").

Please also see my last (Re:Gibraltar) ... I meant it to go here but think I opened a new topic in error & remember to "cover your back" ... you know it makes sense !

Cheers
"Per Mare Per Terram Per Democracy"