Latest news with #KenJones
Metro
a day ago
- Politics
- Metro
Readers say you can't bomb your way to peace
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. After finishing a hot day at work with no air-conditioning. I catch my bus for the first part of my journey home. And surprise, surprise the heating is on. It's like an oven and I'm told that on older buses nothing can be done about it as the heat from the engine has to go somewhere. So you just suffer in silence while you melt. Oh yes and the fares have gone up! After more than 40 years of using buses, nothing ever changes. The only glimmer of hope is the second half of my journey on an electric bus, which are better. Ken Jones, via email I was out on Saturday enjoying the sunshine in Folkestone. A young lad walked past and said, 'Stand and deliver!' To which his dad said 'Adam Ant? You're a bit young to remember that young man'. It was at that point that I felt my age and wanted to wipe the white paint strip off of my nose. Dec, Essex One thing we're not hearing in the main media, when debating the rights and wrongs of either side, are the atrocities and repression perpetrated by the Islamic regime of Iran. They are executing masses of people over small offences – and some of these were children when imprisoned. Remember too, in 1988, Ayatollah Khomeini ordered the mass executions of thousands of political prisoners who had been opposing the Islamic state. Another of the distasteful aspects of the Iranian regime is the marriage of pre-teen girls while educated females are severely restricted with regards to employment opportunities. This regime really needs to go and, as commentators have said, Iranian civil society is very capable of setting up a democratic government of the country once the current regime is toppled. P Munden, Croydon Russell Steven's letter (MetroTalk, Mon) states that the recent trend of 'mild criticism' of Israel should not be allowed to continue. He justifies this by saying that Israelis 'one of the only democracies in the Middle East'. It is absolutely correct for the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government to be subject to criticism in exactly the same way as we might criticise Donald Trump and the United States Of America government or Sir Keir Starmer here in the United Kingdom – and both of these governments are democratically elected. People here in the UK should be allowed to voice their concerns. It is called free speech. JD, London Apart from all other considerations, there is no question whatsoever that Netanyahu and his henchmen are committing ethnic cleansing, war crimes and/or genocide in Gaza. This is and will be seen as a stain on humanity and those of us who are appalled by this behaviour await justice for the innocent children, women and men affected by this outrage. Neil Coppendale, Shoreham-by-Sea You can't bomb people into peace, just into surrender. Those who survive will not think well of their aggressors and hatred will endure. With regards to the Middle East, loud words and explosions are the wrong approach. Quiet words and a lot of prayers may help. Dennis Fitzgerald, via email So Donald Trump joins hands with the state of Israel, breaking international law, attacking a sovereign state – Iran. Most cringeworthy is Trump's 'God bless Israel' – that's a country which has committed genocide in Gaza, and whose prime minister has been accused of being a war criminal. The rule of law in the world today has been turned upside down by 'dictators' – American, Israeli and Russian. The path to peace must be kept open and people of good faith must shout the loudest. Steve, Harrow Surely I can't be the only person in the UK who felt ashamed and humiliated watching Starmer sucking up to Trump in Alberta? It reminded me of the way in which Mussolini trotted alongside Hitler like a poodle before, and during, World War II. Trump and Starmer seem to have formed their own mutual appreciation society. Bob Readman, Sevenoaks Whilst Trump is undeniably frightening, are the people who voted him in not equally frightening? It must be said, Team Trump has a very scary fanbase. AH, Leeds I find it astonishing that more than 1,000 people illegally entering the UK in small boats this weekend only merited a tiny mention at the bottom of page seven (Metro, Mon). To put the number into context, that's more than the entire student population of my daughter's secondary school. In a single weekend! The total loss of control of our borders is a national disgrace and should be front page news every single day. Chris H, London Lester May tells us how to save water (MetroTalk Mon). It's a pity the water companies in the UK cannot sort all the leaks. Lester mentions global warming and an increasing population. The UK population today is 68.1million; in 1925 it was nearer 40million. More Trending World population today is 8.2billion. In 1925, it was 2billion. It will be around 11billion in 2100. Why do the climate brigade never mention the obvious that it is people who cause greenhouse gases? Is another world war needed to save the planet? Clark Cross, Linlithgow Following stories about the church bells being silenced in a Yorkshire village due to the complaints of a few, and as the child of first-generation migrants who came to the UK in the 60s (I was born and educated in UK), my parents never had issues with church bells ringing and nor do I. However, I find it offensive that Johnathan Longstaff (MetroTalk, June 13) draws parallels between people who move to an area with church bells ('Newcomers to anywhere near where the church rings its bells should have checked before they moved there') with 'immigrants demanding that everyone speaks their native language because they don't understand English'. Isn't that what the English did in India, Africa and the Middle East. Mel BC, via email MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables MORE: Victory for Metro after grassroots venues handed £30,000,000 in support MORE: Manhunt for thief launched after £150,000 violin stolen from pub
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Air Force veteran recalls flying with atomic bombs during Cold War
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Ken Jones, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, shared what it was like flying with nuclear bombs aboard his plane during the Cold War. He was one of the last military draftees. Jones has not lost his edge of concentration and precision. If bean bag baseball was a pro sport, he would be an all-star. The precision he displays in the game was part of his DNA as a navigator 50 years ago. How a clothing exchange is growing community at Sweetwater High 'You had to be pretty good in math, precision. You had to be somebody that was precise,' said Jones. He flew aboard big B-52 Stratofortress Bombers. Not the modern high-tech ones in the air today, but the more low-tech models flown in the 1970s and 80s during the Cold War. 'I used to say we had mice behind the back of all the instruments back there running on a treadmill to make them turn and get all the information or something,' said Jones. Jones was one of the last group of men to be drafted in 1971, under the new lottery system. He qualified to attend the prestigious Defense Language school at Presidio in Monterrey California. 'I said 'what language am I going to be learning?' They said Czechoslovakian. I said, 'I don't know how to spell that, much less speak it,'' said Jones. Soldier meets future wife after a Christmas card from Telford After three months of Language School learning Czechoslovakian, he had to opportunity to go to office training school. It would take nearly another 18 months to complete his B-52 navigation school training where precision was an important part of the job. 'We were trained basically – you have to be over your target at a certain time. Because if you are not there, you may come in and be right in the middle of someone else coming in and laying bombs down. So, you could get literally blown out of the sky,' he explained. His service was during the height of the Cold War when bomber crews like his were on continuous alert status. 'I was at Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport,' said Jones, explaining he was ready to go anywhere around the world. 'Well, they were atomic bombs,' he said. 'I probably can tell you now 50 years later, most of our targets were in Russia.' Jones retired with 21 years of service. Then for two years, he taught Air Force JROTC at Austin-East High School. 'I felt like I did something that benefited our nation,' said Jones. Veterans Voices: Hear the stories of those who served If you know a Veteran who could be recognized, send Don Dare an email at ddare@ or give him a call at 865-633-6923. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
