Ramblings of an old man

[Newt]

This may offend some - heck, it WILL offend some. But the man expressed what I thing better than I could do and in the interests of international understanding, I felt the least I could do was share it.

 

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Provided by Joe Galloway, author of We Were Soldiers

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If you aren't interested in the ramblings of an old man, please delete now. If you're still there, pull up a chair and listen.

 

Is there anyone else out there who's sick and tired of all the polls being taken in foreign countries as to whether or not they" like" us? The last time I looked, the word "like" had nothing to do with foreign policy. I prefer 'respect' or 'fear.' They worked for Rome, which civilized and kept the peace in the known world a hell of a lot longer than our puny two centuries-plus.

 

I see a left-wing German got elected to office recently by campaigning against the foreign policy of the United States. Yeah, that's what I want, to be lectured about war and being a "good neighbor" by a German. Their head honcho said they wouldn't take part in a war against Iraq. Kind of nice to see them taking a pass on a war once in while. Perhaps we needed to have the word "World" in front of War. I think it's time to bring our boys home from Germany. Outside of the money we'd save, we'd make the Germans "like" us a lot more, after they started paying the bills for their own defense.

 

Last time I checked, France isn't too fond of us either. They sort of liked us back on June 6th, 1944, though, didn't they? If you don't think so, see how nicely they take care of the enormous American cemeteries up above the Normandy beaches. For those of you who've studied history, we also have a few cemeteries in places like Belleau Woods and Chateau Thierry also. For those of you who haven't studied it, that was from World War One the first time Europe screwed up, and we bailed out the French. That's where the US Marines got the title 'Devil Dogs' or, if you still care about what the Germans think, Teufelhunde." I hope I spelled that right; sure wouldn't want to offend anyone, least of all a German.

 

Come to think of it, when Europe couldn't take care of their Bosnian problem recently, guess who had to help out there also. Last time I checked, our kids are still there. I sort of remember they said they would be out in a year. Gee, how time flies when you're having fun.

 

Now we hear that the South Koreans aren't too happy with us either. They "liked" us a lot better, of course, in June 1950. It took more than

50,000 Americans killed in Korea to help give them the lifestyle they currently enjoy, but then who's counting? I think it's also time to bring the boys home from there. There are about 37,000 young Americans on the DMZ separating the South Koreans from their "brothers" up north. Maybe if we leave, they can begin to participate in the "good life" that North Korea currently enjoys. Uh huh. Sure.

 

I also understand that a good portion of the Arab/Moslem world now doesn't "like" us either. Did anyone ever sit down and determine what we would have to do to get them to like us? Ask them what they would like us to do. Die? Commit ritual suicide? Bend over? Maybe we should follow the advice of our dimwitted, dullest knife in the drawer, Senator Patty Murray, and build more roads, hospitals, day care centers, and orphanages like Osama bin Laden does. What with all the orphans Osama has created, the least he can do is build some places to put them. Senator Stupid says if we would only "emulate" Osama, the Arab world would love us.

 

Sorry Patty, in addition to the fact that we already do all of those things around the world and have been doing them for over sixty years, I don't take public transportation, and I certainly wouldn't take it with a bomb strapped to the guy next to me. Don't get me wrong: I'm not in favor of going to war. Been there, done that. Several times, in fact. But I think we ought to have some polls in this country about other countries, and see if we "like" THEM. Problem is, if you listed the countries, not only wouldn't the average American know if he liked them or not, he wouldn't be able to find them. If we're supposed to worry about them, how about them worrying about us?

 

We were nice to the North Koreans in 1994, as we followed the policies of Neville Clinton. And it seemed to work; they didn't restart nuclear weapons program for a whole year or so. In the meantime, we fed them when they were starving, and put oil in their stoves when they were freezing.

 

In a recent visit to Norway, I engaged in a really fun debate with my cousin's son, a student at a Norwegian University. I was lectured to by this thankless squirt about the American "Empire," and scolded about dropping the atomic bomb on the Japanese. I reminded him that empires usually keep the stuff they take; we don't, and back in 1945 most Norwegians thought dropping ANY kind of bomb on Germany or Japan was a good idea. I also reminded him that my uncle, his grandfather, and others in our family spent a significant time in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, courtesy of the Germans, and they didn't all survive. I further reminded him that if it weren't for the "American Empire" he would probably be speaking German or Russian.

 

Sorry about the rambling, but I just took an unofficial poll here at our house, and we don't seem to like anyone.

[Peter Gowman]

Newt

You haven't offended me, and there's an awful lot more like me in the UK than the popular media would have you believe.

I pretty much agree with the author of that post, and it would do one or two of the posters on this forum good to actually consider the facts as written instead of dismissing them as propoganda.

[yoxer]

After I finish wiping the tears from me eyes I will try t find some equaly sickin rubbish to pop up , maybe from the uk mothers whose sons where killed by friendly fire in the last gulf war.

 

It seems that our main problem in Iraq is essentially, verifying that Saddam's WMD assets are being properly destroyed, right? There's no need for a bloody war to accomplish this, is there?

 

We just need more weapons inspectors.

 

Thus, here is an idea: we give the soldiers being sent some new training, perhaps a nice ly done brief sheet with proper RoE instructions, then send them in as armed weapons inspectors. On the way, we ask (politely) that all Republican Guard units turn their armaments over (for the duration), so that no "untoward incidents" erupt. After we scour the country with our 200,000 strong inspection team, and are satisfied that nothing is amiss, we can leave by the same way we came.

 

There. No fuss, no muss (that is, unless our inspectors are fired upon - in which case they are amptly equipped to respond in kind).

 

As far as I can see, this covers all the bases. France ought to approve, I'm certain. Anyone disagree?

[billy5000]

hi all,

 

This isn't billy its the other half,Cheri.

 

Newt thanx for that post it was an interesting read-don't see Galloways name to much here.Up until the release of the film, very much unheard of! Since the film I have read and reread the book well written and heart wrenching.

If u know of anyway I can get a copy autographed by either Joe Galloway or Hal Moore let me know:)

 

To Yoxer,pick yourself another thread and spout what you know about-if theres anything??? Try reading the book you would find that not only those in previous gulf war get hit by "friendly fire"cold fact of nature **** happens you can't blame them forever,imagine how those responsible for their mates death feel? if you had been in Joe Galloways' position in Vietnam-Ia Drang Valley Nov 1965,How many pictures would you have got,lying face down in the dirt?

would you have the bottle to pull the trigger when necessary?

 

I doubt it very much I certainly couldn't.

 

Cheri

 

[ 07. March 2003, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: billy5000 ]

[chesters1]

cheri (good job your not a real relation ) you cant make personal attacks its not the chesters1/ granger way , much better to bite your tongue or laugh , and what do girls know about war anyway they just do the washing and stuff ps mum says pics were "cute" , but then arnt all babies in womens eyes

and as for not blaming for ever, rubbish , just you wait till a roman soldier comes up my path :mad:

and dont believe in anything in books 100% there was a film and book about the english woman who was a spy in france in ww2 ,when asked in an interveiw about it and asked if it was true her answer was " at least they spelled (spelt?) my name right"!!!

 

[ 07. March 2003, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]

[billy5000]

hi all,

hey chesters you know (some)women

 

 

how long did pics take to deliver???

 

 

sg

[billy5000]

i all,

 

hey chesters the title to this thread is pretty close to a description of an old man in farnham

 

 

billy

[chesters1]

a few minutes of waiting ,hopefully you realise your mum WAS a woman , well maybe not after she met me

"rambling" isnt that a bit like walking ,if it is then it ISNT about a man in farnham

 

[ 07. March 2003, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]

[yoxer]

You can make all the personal attacks on me you want Cherie, I dont take them personaly.

 

"would you have the bottle to pull the trigger when necessary "

No , not if I didnt the know the reason why and I suspect a great deal of soldiers on all sides havnt a clue why, other than some sad git telling them its for a good reason son .

[Peter Sharpe]

What I can't work out is that if they can't find the weapons, how do they know where to bomb?