Long winded comment Re: Vietnam and modern combat

> On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 09:28:36 +1000 <Beth.Fulton@csiro.au> writes:

John,

Normally I keep my nose out of other people's humor but don't you think that
was a little over reaching? The problem with either teasing or baiting is that
you can accidentally go (to paraphrase) 'a quip too far'
by  a simple misjudgment (especially through this body-language less,
tone less, and grin  less (emoticons only go so far) medium of e-mail.)
Disagree with me, as is your privilege, if you think I am out of line but
__I__  winced when I read it.  And I don't even LIKE the Department of
State 'diplomats' that can't say 'bad' in less then two glowing (in terms of
Korea perhaps literally) paragraphs.

A lot like "Cousin Jonathan" comments during the 1700's/1800's from our
then estranged UK relatives.

Now I know my boss would be surprised to hear any PC-ness from me (but
then since he is an INTEL weenie of the first water I know I do a lot of
it just to remind him that the ex-DMA people never asked to become part
of the "community" [drafted is a nice parallel though he won't admit it]) but
I feel I need to make my opinion felt in this matter. Of course he isn't an
INTEL weenie. That was just an expression.

I know you were having fun but I am reminded that I am (officially I don't
know this for some stupid reason as of Monday) that I am supposed to brief a
person from [a four letter agency newly formed in one of the Pacific rim
nations] on a matter Wednesday [when I scheduled for training elsewhere, go
figure] and from previous experience I can say that I personally appreciate
the help "they" may or may not be giving (and they are not doing this, if they
are doing it, altruistically, they benefit too) my work group but considering
the heat of some of the Video
Tele-Conferences that others have been in (professional differences on
priorities and 'how' to do some things) "Client State" seems a bit different
from experienced reality. Professional Collaboration does not occur with
Client states. Nations do not have friends (people do, but not nations) but
common interests.

Or so realpolitik says.

A Byzantine (snicker) should know that.  Oh, sorry - Roman.  East Roman,
IIRC. Incoming!

Please note that I did not say he/she above was Australian.  I can
neither confirm or deny gender, nationality or anyone was briefed about
anything.

I can neither confirm or deny my own existence... or that Australia even
exists.  Hell, this e-mail would probably send my boss in a paroxysm of
emotions if he even thought I mentioned where I worked or what I did (and of
course I didn't.)

Okay, rant over.

Gracias,

> --- warbeads@juno.com wrote:

> Normally I keep my nose out of other people's humor

Everywhere I go on the internet since I got back Angles and Anglophiles keep
nattering on about how the Brits are just overwhelmed with luv for our little
brown brethren and go play soccer with the kiddies and
don't wear armor and la-la-la-la-la-la.

It gets a little wearing. I apologize for reacting quite as bluntly as I did.
But the simple fact is that there is probably more difference between the Shia
areas and Sunni areas than there was between Massachussetts and Ontario in
1776.

> At 7:10 PM -0700 4/26/04, John Atkinson wrote:

It's their way when they can. Believe me, they'll crack skulls if they have
to. Look at Aden, Jerusalem and Belfast in several bits of time. The Parachute
Brigade got positively irate following the murder of some of their chaps back
in the late 40's in what is NOW Israel. They're just handling things the way
it needs to be. Note, we're hearing about fighting in two areas. Najaf and
Fallujah, with some IEDs in Bagdad. Everwhere else is nice and peaceful from
what I've not seen in the news.

The south areas are just more peaceful and more inclined to be friendly with
the liberators because they have more of a Clue. I'll bet your the Green
Beanies that were running around in the Kurdish areas were able to let their
hair down more often than not too.

The Shia's that are botching things up are a tiny percentage from what I've
heard.

> It gets a little wearing. I apologize for reacting

Hey, we tried to liberate the Canadians from George too!

John, you're not related to George S. Patton on your Mother's side are you?