How to lose allies ...
 

The americans have a knack of upsetting their 'friends' ....

BBC News - Spanish MP's photo 'used for Osama Bin Laden poster'


Wonder if he's going to disneyworld in florida for his next holiday ... wonder if he gets past immigration ... :D:D:D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

The F.B.I and the C.I.A are fumbling high grade college boys .. British "intelligence" agencies are no better..MI5 ain't a patch on Bowdie n Doyle.:rolleyes:

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

It seems to be the way with the Americans, they are so enveloped in themselves that they fail to notice what is really going on around them.


Should you be an American viewing this, before you go off on one think about it first, then respond.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

this went the rounds a while ago , but seems to answer your question

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked
by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an
example of empire building by George Bush.

He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many
of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return.'

You could have heard a pin drop..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a conference in France where a number of international
engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a
break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have
you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an
aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he
intended to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are
nuclear powered and can supply
emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three
cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they
can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each
day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in
transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have
eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

You could have heard a pin drop.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies..
At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of
Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a
French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many
languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that
we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking
French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the
Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans
arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his
carry on.

'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked
sarcastically.

Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.

'Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.'

The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.

'Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival
in France !'

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly
explained, 'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to
help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a
passport to.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Thing is Steeljack I've never heard anyone question the bravery of US soldiers or their commanders.. but when it comes to intelligence gathering or covert operations it's a not really "Man From Uncle" stuff.. it's been a shambles..as I say the British intelligence service is no better.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Hi there Steeljack, I stand by what I've said, you do tend to get wrapped up in yourselves, and don't see the wood for the trees, but I'll give you the points above, there are others I know, but on the beaches of Normandy you weren't alone, the Brits were also there.

British Navy vessels have also played an important role in various operations but we don't have the size of ships you do but we dig in and crack on. Even as I write this our lads are fighting and dying alongside your Lads in Afghan.

I personally worked alongside some of your soldiers back in the late eighties early nineties, that is where I formed my opinions, we were on the same side but couldn't work together because everything was shrouded in secrecy we informed them of our doings so they could get an overview of how it would work, but you wouldn't tell us.

But what really set it apart was the cases of friendly fire, Gulf War 1991, RRF(Royal Regt Fusiliers) lads from my part of the world gone to school with, gone to the footy together, they had one of your Phsy Ops teams assigned so there was a liaison point between the US & UK. A Pair of American fighters chewed up 2 of their Warriors and the lads inside. Oh you asked permission right enough but only of your own command didn't think to ask the Brits, and on top of that if your pilots had paid more attention at AFV recognition, than looking cool the only AFV with that silhouette was the British Warrior.

So maybe you can understand why I have the viewpoint I do.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

ok ill admit it i need 1 post to play in the arcade but to be fair theres not much going on early sunay morning everyone else has gone to church or somat :-)

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Nope not Church its too far to travel there and be back for bed tonight. So just dossing about the house doing the washing and on the web as must yanks are in bed making it easier. :D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

I see that I retain my red spot because Mr steeljack didn't appreciate my comments. This again backs up my point about the Americans being "wrapped up in themselves" instead of thinking about it first and asking me why I'm saying this he went straight in with the boot.

Had Mr.Steeljack asked why I have this opinion I would've informed him, instead I had to explain myself in a later post. The Item posted by Mr.Steeljack to emphasise his position sadly relies heavily on past glories, I am not disputing your involvement in the war, but had pearl harbour not been attacked would America have been so willing to enter the fray ? they hadn't been prior to the event.

In 1969 the British Army deployed to Northern Ireland to counter terrorism and this ran on through until 2007, during this time Americans (not all) collected for the IRA to buy arms & ammunition to kill British soldiers, even American weapons were supplied to the terrorists. Gerry Adams was invited over and celebrated as a celebrity!! incredulous. Where was the backup then against terrorism ?

Bush Senior took the Americans into Iraq in 1991, on the clause of defending Kuwait from the evil Iraq dictator Saddam Husseien, who was it Steeljack who put Hussein in his position in the first place ? let me see, oh yes ! the Americans because they wanted him to fight against the Iranians in the 80's !!

Back into Iraq in 2003 Bush Junior up until 2009 British troops have supported the Americans in there fight to stamp out WMD & terrorism, Bush asked Blair said yes, so where are they these WMD objects ? At least Iraq is over but unfortunately Afghanistsan is still going on, and young "British" lads are dying following the American dream, don't get me wrong I feel sorry for your loses as well, but again following your lead how many thousand of young Men do you have over there ? We are a small Island we can't afford to lose to many of our lads, but as long as you don't see what's happening around you, we will suffer more than you.

On a lighter note, you have a Baseball "World series" how many other countries are involved and by the way we invented it ,it was called "Rounders" first mentioned in 1745 in England, first played in the States 1846.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

I have one more point to add Mr.Steeljack, throughout my post I was hard but polite, I did no refer to your nations people as "Yanks" which you yourself did as this term is seen as derogatory, I have called you Americans, please keep that in mind before you next slate me.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

I believe Belgium are pulling their soldier out.:D:D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Hold up there Sunshine .... take a time out ......red spots /bad karma ? don't come ranting and raving and making accusations without any proof .........I do send good karma out on occasion , but not bad, so get your facts right . Did the bad karma you recieved have a signature ? You can be sure it was not mine, I allways sign mine , and if it was I'm sure one of the moderators can check which ISP address it originated from.
Refering to your mention of using the word "Yanks" in my post ....please point out where I used it ......

On a lighter note, I allways thought the word "Yank" in modern usage went back to the days prior to D Day when American forces were billeted in the UK and one yank was all that was needed to get British womens knickers off

Be back later to respond to your other comments when I've had some breakfast

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Good morning to you Steeljack, It would appear I have done you a great injustice, straight away for this I apologise. Obviously I have not taken enough care in responding due to a level of annoyance. What has happened is that I received a negative response at or around the same time you responded to my post 2+2 = wrong answer, once again I apologise to you.

That being the case, the anger vented requires redirecting to another source I would say it is not an unreasonable assumption to suppose that the comment stems from one of your Countrymen ? but one who has rather less courage than yourself as they left the comment referring to "Yanks along with a negative response and no name.

Your comment of the origins of the word "Yank" may have some credence but to spare the blushes of our fine British women, let's leave it at that eh ?? Once again I can only apologise to you for a rash assumption, and hope that maybe the originator will show some self respect and come forth.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

As usual, Juno Beach seems to have been forgotten:mad:

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Not forgotten Eric, but I was expressing the views from a British standpoint, the Canadians have also featured heavily in all the allied engagements through out and up to the present day. No definitely not forgotten.


and before someone else gets upset the ANZAC's too.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Don't think anyone is denying the fact that the "old commomwealth" countries haven't done their 'bit' , probably in greater percentage numbers than the UK itself only to have H.Ms. Govt. turn round and kick them in the teeth .

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

ok , had time to reflect on things , no way do I think we (the USofA) are the best thing since sliced bread, lots of things need fixing , but a lot fewer than many places in the world .

Have agree with you there , Pearl Harbour was the event that brought us into the war which had been up to that time a mainly European/North African (colonial) conflict . Much to our shame we were turning ships full of european refugees around and sending them back to Germany , why they weren't admitted to Canada (much nearer) or the UK I don't know , probably the same anti semitism that existed in the US at that time



no arguement from me on this one , but bear in mind members of HMs Govt. and members of the Royal family had no problems sitting down to wine and dine with the Kennedys and other members Irish Ameican lobby

Saddam and the Baath party had been in control long before Bush senior, seem to remember newsreels from the 50s when I was a kid of them hanging the King of Iraq in the streets of Baghdad, he was the one imposed on the Iraqis by the British by Gertude Bell , one of the grandsons of the sherif of Mecca going back to the days when the British promised the Arabs a homeland of their own if they help fight the Turks

Have a bit of a problem with this one as do many American families ,without debating the pros and cons of the war, seems to me if the "european" allies want to be treated as equal partners they need to get up to the bar , the UK population is roughly 1/5 that of the US , so it seems logical that for every 50,000 troops the US has on the ground the UK should have at least 10,000
present numbers indicate the US has about 68,000 compared with the UKs 9000. No need for me to comment about the other Nato countries miserable contributions

ok no arguement from me on this one , but have to wonder why the English football league is called that when over 70% of the players are none UK born :D :D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

my friend is a flagstone layer and when at work one day an american tourist stopped to talk to him and said that in america they had a machine that could lay flagstones acurate to 1 millionth of a tenth acuracy to which my mate replied " thats no good to me i need to be spot on " :)

in america bigger is better and it even goes to the extent of potatos been 4 x larger than UK grown pototoes but we dont need to grow them as big for our mouths :D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

A Texas rancher stopped at a Saskatchewan farm, and was chatting to the farmer. He asked him, "How much land do you farm"? The stubble jumper replied, "I farm three sections"? (about 2000 acres). The Texan said, "Hell, I can get in my truck and drive all day, and I'm still on my own land." The Saskatchewan farmer replied, "Yup, I had a truck like that once.";)

But seriously, the problem I see is post #4. Here, we are asked to accept not only the courage of the American soldier ... and American service personel are as brave, and as patriotic, and as dedicated as any ... but also, the altruism of American foreign policy. America doesn't have any foreign policy other than self-interest.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

americas is so paranoid about terrorism you cant get into teh country if you have drink driving offence and thats our alli lol

i dont condone drink driving but i woudlnt put somone convicted of it on a list of peopel likely to ram a jumbo jet into a sky scraper

well not unless they were flying the plane after a bottle of vodka

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Reminds me of that Texan stood in the concourse at Heathrow Airport, he looks round and says here we are Heathrow airport, London, England, the arsehole of the world, just then a little cockney was walking past and said, passing through are we :D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

In answer to the footy question, it was started back in 1888, consisted of 12 clubs all English. :)

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

The British Army, full time numbers as of 2009 stand at 106,000 approx this also includes LTR (Long term reserves),so we're a bit pushed for numbers considering all our other commitments.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

We could put more troops into afghanistan if only those damn yanks woudl stop shooting them it would help keep the numbers up

bit of give and take please america :confused:

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Ooh and look another red DOT :rolleyes: I do seem to be ruffling somebodies feathers :) all entitled to our opinions, but at least have the backbone to say who you are when you slag me down so I'll know to avoid you should we meet, because if you don't like my comments you'll probably not like me.

Also your spineless ways made me wrongly accuse as it happens a very pleasant bloke, so if you're a fella? grow some eh!

Lets see how far down this sinks me :D:D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

i will give you some but at the moment it says i have given too much out in the last 24 hours

i guess im just too generous :o

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Thanks for the offer Accyman, but it's not important.I'm certainly not worried about it, so other folk needn't worry either. I think my attitude is quite discernable from my posts :) by the way what's the record minus Points anyones had ??

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

So, if one takes the numbers of troops available, the UK is making a very large commitment of resources to Afghanistan. This is a much more reliable and realistic way of looking at numbers on the ground. Total population figures are misleading gauges of the degree of commitment. Soldiers are produced only by rigorous and extended periods of training ... they don't leap into being on enlistment. Indeed much of the efforts of NATO troops in Afghanistan are directed at training Afghan troops and police. Canadian forces too are being stressed to the limit. Of the 139 Canadians kia in Afghanistan, most are experienced NCOs, the backbone of our army. Many of them are reservists, men and women with jobs and careers back home, who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way because they believe in what they are doing.

And I just heard on the news that we are commiting more resources to Haiti. (Canada, particularly Quebec, has a large number of Canadians of Haitian origin. Our Govenor General came from Haiti as an immigrant.) Two ships, HMCS Halifax and HMCS Ville de Quebec, carrying troops and supplies will soon arrive. DART (Disaster Assistance Respone Team) teams from Kingston have been flown out of Trenton with mobile hospitals and water purification plants. It might not seem like much, compared to what the US is doing; but in terms of our available resources, stretched to the limit in Afghanistan, it is all we can do. I know it's a wander mentioning Haiti; but that star crossed country needs as much help as those of us more fortunate can give.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

im not sure but i think mancie had a good effort but then people started getting used to his drunken ramblings and pitty karma was given out as its against accyweb policy to pick on the mentaly disturbed.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

are they sending extra troops to protect the troops already there and teh aid workers from been attacked by teh ungreatfull sods which is happening at the moment ?

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

don't need any of that, I want to earn my minus points the proper way by people not liking the truth :D :D :D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Mind you if the rags stories this morning are true about the USA having serious concerns about the extremists in this country GB might be out of the game.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Haven't seen that, what was that about ??

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

Heres the snippit from the online paper;

Daily Star: Simply The Best 7 Days A Week :: News :: Al-Qaida: USA raps ‘risky’ UK

There was more in the paper but I didnt bring it home. Aint tried the BBC website yet though.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

think this is the story from last weeks (London) Daily Telegraph

Al-Qaeda threat: Britain worst in western world - Telegraph

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

when I found Accyweb, I had a quick look at some of the posts and got the impression that being drunk and mentally disturbed was a pre-condition to joining..I didn't read the rules. :)

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

aint a pre-condition, but it sure helps.:D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

I thought being sober got you barred on here:D

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

They are not ungreatfull (sic) ... many haven't eaten for six days .... there is little safe drinking water .... a doctor from Medcens sans Frontiers interviewed on CBC said that they are operating under trees, on plastic sheets spread on the ground ... just about everyone in the major affected areas has lost family members ... they probably just don't know what's happening, because they are not sitting around in front of their 52" tvs watching. Violence is bound to occur ... Remember what happened after Katrina?

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

I do hope that if the Yanks offer out Kraft 'Cheese' slices to the Haitians as food aid, our caribbean friends will have the good sense to boycott the said product, and any other food manufactured by this awful company. Lets keep Cadbury British.

Re: How to lose allies ...
 

the eithiopians didnt have 52 inch tvs either yet they rallied round and helped each other as best they coudl considering they were starving to death and as far as i remember rather than attack the people sent to help them they worked with the poeple sent to help them to distribute the aid like food etc and qued up to get vacination shots.What they didnt do was turn on each other like a pack of animals and im pretty sure that if a disaster ever hit the UK the people would rally round together despite how bad the papers woudl have us believe about teh people of today i still think we would rather pull together than turn on each other.After the earthquakes in pakistan people who survived set about digging out and searching for survivors and worked alongside aid workers,after the fires in australia neigbouring towns gave refuge and pulled together to help their fellow man who had lost everthing.

haiti is an unstable and corrupt place at the best of times but surely there is point where even they shoudl realise that its not a good idea to attack people sent to help them and pull together rather than to continue robbing and killing each other because rioting will only acheive more destruction

aid is struggleng to get through so instead of rioting and looting why dont those able to move about help getteh aid through rather than riot