Best US allies in the war against terror - Page 2

Oerdin · July 16, 2002, 03:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
Oh come on - its got to be Australia - we go to all their wars

I didn't see many of the countries listed above going down for the count with Uncle Sam in Vietnam. We did, God help us. Our Government begged the Americans to let us send troops and then pretended they had asked for them.

Somalia? We sent a battalion.

Iraq? There's talk of an armoured Brigade - except we don't have one - its suspected the Minister is actually talking about 1 Brigade in Darwin.

We even managed to send a few officers to Bosnia, which has FA to do with Australian interests.

As a radio announcer mentioned this morning, if Tony Blair is Bush's poodle, what does that make us?

Two years ago I was still in the army and they shipped us off to Kosovo. While I was there an Australia officer came and stayed with us for a while; he was a really nice guy who was trying to learn from British & American peace keepers so Australia could do a better job in east Timor.

Aussie seem to turn up in all sorts of allied adventures.

Roland · July 16, 2002, 04:45

Those who vote for Britain may be slightly overestimating the "harmony", but how on earth can you take Israel under the Sharon government ? By watching foxnews 24/7, or what ?

The Mad Monk · July 16, 2002, 04:57

Because I misread the question (somehow tagged "in Afghanistan" on the end, there), I said GB, Canada, Australia, and Pakistan.

For overall, drop Pakistan and add in Israel.

Hydey · July 16, 2002, 06:11

The Aussies won their battles in Vietnam, it was the Yanks who lost that one.

Buck Birdseed · July 16, 2002, 06:17

The best Ally, as indeed the best friend, would surely be the one that tries to stop the US from engaging in this ridiculous, murderous and fruitless war. A true friend would try to seek help for the violent maniac, not run along with everything he says thus ultimately causing him to hurt both himself and the world around him.

Heresson · July 16, 2002, 06:53

Israel helping anti-terrorism campaign?
-if not Isarael, there would be no terrorism.
-Israel is the thing that makes other countries
not so willing to support USA

DinoDoc · July 16, 2002, 08:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
Oh come on - its got to be Australia - we go to all their wars

When did that get started anyway? IIRC, America never tags along for anyone else's war.

Quote:

As a radio announcer mentioned this morning, if Tony Blair is Bush's poodle, what does that make us?

Our Doberman Pinscher. An excellent breed well suited to military service.

James Adams · July 16, 2002, 08:09

I think as Britain + Israel were the only countries to help practical, and will help US widen the war, they are the best allies to US!

Eli · July 16, 2002, 08:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Israel gets my vote as the worst ally during the war on terrorism. Their agressive and vicious actions before and after 9/11 is what is fueling the Moslem rage agaisnt us.

Errr... The entire "war on terrorism" does that.

Az · July 16, 2002, 08:33

you seem to forget Eli. It's all our fault.

Saint Marcus · July 16, 2002, 18:32

of course. when in trouble, blame the jews.

Heresson · July 16, 2002, 19:20

It's not our fault they are to blame.

Shi Huangdi · July 16, 2002, 20:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli

Errr... The entire "war on terrorism" does that.

First, I should say I support the existance of a Jewish state, I just don't agree with most of it's recent actions.

Yes, there are quite a few angered by our actions in Afghanistan, but moderate Moslems won't be too upset at the Taliban being replaced by Karzai. Sharon's actions, however, infuriate and inspire Moslems across the board at Israel and the USA.

Alexander's Horse · July 16, 2002, 21:02

Well this speculation is all very interesting but if you really want to know who are the closest allies you should have a look at who shares intelligence with whom.

At the heart of the US alliance system is an intelligence arrangement between the United States, the UK, Australia and Canada whose acronym escapes me for the moment. This started in World War II. New Zealand used to be a full member until they closed their ports to ships armed with nuclear weapons.

That's the heart of the alliance. Its an anglo club. The rest of you can go to hell

SpencerH · July 16, 2002, 21:12

In my experience the Aussie soldiers cause more trouble in peace time than anything else, that doesnt mean that I wouldnt be happy if they were around when the $hits flying.

Alexander's Horse · July 16, 2002, 21:36

Quote:

Originally posted by SpencerH
In my experience the Aussie soldiers cause more trouble in peace time than anything else, that doesnt mean that I wouldnt be happy if they were around when the $hits flying.

Well you know we do our best

But your comments reminds me of a scene from Billy Bathgate. One mobster shoots every bullet at the heart of the target with a carefully aimed accurate shot. The other mobster just blazes away with a gun in both hands and obliterates the target. The Boss then asks the boy, which guy would you rather have on your side in a gunfight?

SpencerH · July 16, 2002, 21:48

I was gonna say that I think its the one-sided hats that are too tight (and cause a lack of blood circulatio to the brain), but the last $hit-disturbing aussies I met were MP sergeants in Cyprus and they were (occasionally) wearing the "happy blue-bonnets" of the UN !

Alexander's Horse · July 16, 2002, 22:05

I remember a warrant officer, master sergeant in your system, telling me that in Vietnam when his battalion returned to base from ops they would have a BBQ the next day which was basically an excuse for fist fighting.

The convention was the officers left early and then the NCO's supervised the fights. The idea was the soldiers got any b*tches out of their system and settled any differences with their fists at the BBQ - including with the NCO's if they wished. There were heavy punishments for anyone who carried on a grudge after the BBQ. Everyone was supposed to be friends again the following day.

This is a variation on the longstanding Australian tradition of beating up the nearest allied unit, hopefully a British one.

A friend of mine's company got banned from an exercise in Malaysia recently because every time they took a Malaysian position his soldiers would punch and kick the Malay soldiers as they fought through. Ah well

But you want your soldiers to have a bit of mongrel in them.

Oerdin · July 16, 2002, 22:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Hydey
The Aussies won their battles in Vietnam, it was the Yanks who lost that one.

Please, the U.S. army won every battle it ever fought against the NVA.

Dan Severn · July 17, 2002, 01:42

Oerdin is right- we gave 'em hell.

Of course, politicians brought us there, then made us have to leave.

As for who is to blame for terrorism, I say blame the Costa Ricans.

Why? Do you know a costa rican? Can you find it on the map? Furthermore, they have no army, so we wouldn't have to kill anybody. We'd just march right in. The costa rican economy would boom selling tacos and beer to the troops, and everyone would be happy.