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Haditha & Breaker Morant

Posted on 06/02/2006 10:28:37 AM PDT by PurpleMan

For your considerations.....

It seems as though Haditha has the possiblity of turning into a version of "Breaker Morant." For those who have not seen it, I commend you to take the time to watch it.

Some memorable quotes:

"The barbarities of war are seldom committed by abnormal men. The tragedy of war is that these horrors are committed by normal men in abnormal situations."

"We shot them under Rule 303."

"Live each day as though it were your last; one day you're sure to be right."

"Needless to say, the Germans couldn't give a damn about the Boers. The diamonds and gold of South Africa they're after."

Morant: There is an epitaph I'd like: Matthew 10:36. Major Thomas: Matthew 10:36? Minister: "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: breakermorant; haditha; iraq
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1 posted on 06/02/2006 10:28:38 AM PDT by PurpleMan
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To: PurpleMan

WTF?


2 posted on 06/02/2006 10:30:16 AM PDT by pissant
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To: PurpleMan

Breaker Morant is one of my all time favorites. The same director also did "Gallipoli" which stars a very young Mel Gibson (it was filmed in Australia) is also a great flick. I think the director's name is Peter Weir. I could look it up but I'm to lazy.


3 posted on 06/02/2006 10:31:42 AM PDT by joebuck
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To: PurpleMan
"Needless to say, the Germans couldn't give a damn about the Boers. The diamonds and gold of South Africa they're after."

The response: "They lack our altruism, sir."

Great movie. Highly recommended.

I remember a friend who had a leftist girlfriend who ranted about Vietnam atrocities. He dragged her to see it so she could understand that the situation on any battlefield was a lot more complicated than those who sat at home in pious judgement could realize.

4 posted on 06/02/2006 10:31:59 AM PDT by Numbers Guy
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To: PurpleMan
I'm not sure about that.In the Boer War,the guerrillas wearing civilian clothes were all adults.There appears to have been at least a couple of kids involved in this one.

If it proves true that one or more Marines acted in a clearly improper fashion,I think it's more likely due to the stresses of war.Add to that the likely fact that the 9th Century knuckledraggers are doing their best to maximize "the fog of war" and,thus,civilian deaths for propaganda proposes and you've got a bad situation,image-wise.

5 posted on 06/02/2006 10:37:04 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: joebuck
I think the director's name is Peter Weir. I could look it up but I'm to lazy.

Breaker Morant is one of my favorites,too.I think it was directed by Bruce Beresford.

6 posted on 06/02/2006 10:38:30 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: joebuck

I love that movie. I have bored more girlfriends in the past by making them watch Breaker Morant.
Another good Australian movie of that era was The Light Horsemen.


7 posted on 06/02/2006 10:40:51 AM PDT by Holicheese (Stanley Cup's new home will be North Carolina!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

You are right. Weir directed Gallipoli but not Morant. Both were made at a time when there was an explosion of good films coming from Australia


8 posted on 06/02/2006 10:41:46 AM PDT by joebuck
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To: Numbers Guy
The response: "They lack our altruism, sir."

One of my favorite lines was,when Morant was testifying,he said "well perhaps Colonel Hamilton could be recalled from India.I don't mind waiting".

9 posted on 06/02/2006 10:42:20 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: pissant

see the movie, maybe you will understand, but I doubt it.


10 posted on 06/02/2006 10:44:48 AM PDT by SFC Chromey (We are at war with Islamofascism, now ACT LIKE IT, PRESIDENT BUSH!)
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To: joebuck
Both were made at a time when there was an explosion of good films coming from Australia.

If you're a fan of Australian film,I'd recommend "A Town Like Alice" which was a mini-series on Australian TV in the 80's.Although it's got some "chick flick" aspects to it,it's set during WWII and stars Bryan Brown and is something that a guy can really enjoy too.

11 posted on 06/02/2006 10:46:46 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: Gay State Conservative

Operative word was "possibility."

Would hate to see them saying as Harry did: "Remember us, lad! Scapegoats of the bloody empire!"

BTW: The BEST line is: “A slice off a cut loaf won’t be missed."


12 posted on 06/02/2006 10:47:05 AM PDT by PurpleMan
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To: SFC Chromey

That's allright. Watch it again for me.


13 posted on 06/02/2006 10:47:08 AM PDT by pissant
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To: joebuck
You need to add The Australian Light Horse and ANZACs Down Under to your movie list. Both are about the Great War.
14 posted on 06/02/2006 10:50:22 AM PDT by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: Holicheese
I got the title wrong in my post but you're right. Also look up ANZACs Down Under.
15 posted on 06/02/2006 10:51:46 AM PDT by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: PurpleMan
Needless to say, the Germans couldn't give a damn about the Boers. The diamonds and gold of South Africa they're after

Sounds like a no blood for oil argument to me.

16 posted on 06/02/2006 10:54:33 AM PDT by socal_parrot (Pass)
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To: PurpleMan
Would hate to see them saying as Harry did: "Remember us, lad! Scapegoats of the bloody empire!"

I'd be willing to bet that these 9th Century scumbags are taking a page out of the handbook written by Jane Fonda's friends in Vietnam by trying to get our guys as angry as possible and as suspicious as possible.Every civilian casualty,regardless of who's at fault,benefits the knuckledraggers in the PR war,both in Iraq and in the Western press. BTW: The BEST line is: “A slice off a cut loaf won’t be missed."

Lots of great lines in the film.Hancock had many of them.

"Entertained?"

17 posted on 06/02/2006 10:54:36 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative
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To: PeteB570

I will look for that one. Never heard of it. I actually looked for the book "Scapegoats of the Empire" which is what Breaker Morant is based on. Saw a couple copies at a used website.
Never got around to buying it.
Another war but a great book to pick up is "Hell in a small Place" about the FFL at Dien Bien Phu.


18 posted on 06/02/2006 10:54:36 AM PDT by Holicheese (Stanley Cup's new home will be North Carolina!)
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To: PurpleMan

You forgot:

"A slice off a cut loaf is never missed."



It is, without a doubt, a great movie. One of my favorites.


19 posted on 06/02/2006 11:05:57 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: PBRSTREETGANG

Yep. The BEST line ever


20 posted on 06/02/2006 11:08:58 AM PDT by PurpleMan
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