What fighter plane do you think Romania should use?

I've seen the "nudge nudge wink wink" sketch since you first mentioned it, but obviously I see no resemblance with me! Perhaps you should read "Academia Caţavencu", because they "wink" at the right people! I've been reading it for many years and I'm quite sick of some personalities in our political life - not that sick to leave the country, but...
To end it once and for all with the frigates, do you know that we've bought them with a price almost four times bigger than some country in South America? (I cannot remember the exact details, because the question is quite old) How's that? And it seems that - at some moments - instead of learning about honesty from our European partners, we teach them the "Romanian way".
As for the

, what if those two people are Antena 1 and Jurnalul Naţional and they tell you that Voiculescu is an honest man which never talked w/ Security? Would u believe them?

There, right there is your problem! You are angry about something that you clearly misunderstood. Then you nudge nudge wink wink me to agree with you.

Romania bought two Type 22 frigates at a cost of 58 million pounds each.

Chile bought three Type 23 frigates at a cost of 45 million pounds each.

First of all, the two types of frigates are different. Then, they were fitted with different types of weapons and equipment. You are comparing apples and oranges and then you get really angry in the process because neither of them are pineapples.

Honesty in Europe? Oh boy! Where do we start? As a Romanian guy once told me, "Romania e patria mafiei". [Romania is the fatherland of Mafia.] Genius! It's like George W. saying that "The French have no word for enterpreneur!"
There is sleaze everywhere in Europe. Romania did not invent any of this stuff, it's all been done before. Power corrupts. But not all people in power are corrupt.

I read Academia Catavencu. I read a lot of newspapers. They are nothing more than newspapers. They provide news. That is all. They are not judges. They are not executioners. They behave like judges and executioners, but they are not. I distrust them. I trust the legal system. If a journalist says that a bribe was given but a judge says that it was not, then I believe the judge. You may say that a judge may be corrupt(ed). Maybe. But I can also say that a journalist may be corrupt(ed). And between a judge and a journalist, I take a judge's word any day. Any dude with a blog thinks he is a journalist. It takes a lot of hard work and integrity to become a judge. So, if a legal panel of investigation finds no bribe, then there is no bribe, no matter how many strops and tantrums a journalist may throw. They may nudge nudge wink wink, but unless a judge rules it a crime, it is not a crime.

I do not care about Voiculescu. I do not read or watch any of his stuff.

Radu

This post has been edited by Radub on February 21, 2009 05:58 pm

1. I resent being compared with "dabăliu"! I don't suck that much!
2. About judges - I've been in a trial with a young judge and I've seen her sarcasm; I've been in trial with an old judge and I've seen her communist/stalinist/obsolete way of thinking. Enough for me to ever appeal to Romanian justice! Or trust them, for that matter - I lost in a clear-shot case, but it regarded the access to information law (what is called in US the FOIA - Freedom Of Information Act).

This post has been edited by MMM on February 23, 2009 01:34 pm

As often happens on this forum, the thread has degenerated in a personal dispute.

Why the dispute is always, on this forum, more important than the topic I fail to understand.

Redcooper, oh man, what is this thing you have about personal attacks?
There are no personal attacks, just people taking it personally.

MMM, I did not compare you to anyone. I just told you what that acquaintance of mine said and I qualified it by comparing it to W's pearls of wisdom.

I do not want to divert this into a discussion about judges or journalists. I just explained how I feel. You are free to disagree with me, I have no problems with that.

Radu

This post has been edited by Radub on February 21, 2009 08:09 pm

Get back to the original topic.

So, when do you think the ARR will begin its purchase of whichever airplane? 2009, 2010 or even later...

the ARR? never, i guess.

This post has been edited by dead-cat on February 23, 2009 01:23 pm

Sorry - of course I meant RoAF... I'm certainy not a nostalgic. Still, the question remains.

The new commander in chief was military atachee (or something like that) in Israel. Any smart ideeas?

He's got to be an USA fan, then - as we don't have an Israeli plane to buy (yet), he might go with the scrap-yard F-16's. They'll be good for us - I mean, after old Soviet MiG's, why not old American F's (from almost the same generation). We'll see, won't we? And, of course, we'll pay as well!

Now, now... don't be an extremist! Second-hand US fighters are the best, they're democracy's best work horses and all that.

What about cheap spare parts, easy maintenance, NATO ordnance (since we are membership now), US trainers etc ?
F-16 is the most logical solution given our budget and our orientation towards cooperation with United States armed forces.
We don't need top notch systems to lay as sitting ducks in hangars, we need easy to maintain machines and pilots with many hours of flight on them.

You're right, Victor, but I don't think the F 16's are cheap planes...

Now, now, don't be a facetious sore-loser.