Posted on 08/04/2004 1:10:21 PM PDT by quidnunc
Sydney, Australia – Among the formal and organizational wreaths at the war memorial dedicated to the Royal Australian Regiment in the center of Sydney last Sunday were two laid by an RAR corporal in memory of two friends killed in action. They died 51 years ago in Korea fighting alongside Americans, Brits and others in the U.N. force. Aussies were among the first soldiers to join the United States in Afghanistan. They are stationed today in Iraq.
Few of us honor the injunction "Lest We Forget" as faithfully as the RAR corporal. But Americans should at least be aware that Australia can claim to be their most reliable ally. The island-continent has fought alongside America in every U.S. war since World War I. And a firm American-Australian alliance has been in place since 1941. That alliance has been the cornerstone of Australian policy since then. It has had the consistent bipartisan support of both Labor and (conservative) Coalition governments.
In the last 20 years, Australia has undergone an economic revolution — removing protective tariffs, holding down taxes and developing new industries such as financial services. In addition, the country has benefitted recently from the rise of the Chinese economy with its vast appetite for raw materials.
In these circumstances the Coalition government under Prime Minister John Howard might be expected to win the forthcoming election handily. But the polls are close. It will be a real contest.
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(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
This is a great post.
It was only after visiting down under, specifically the military museum in Geelong, that I was able to grasp the extent to which we should be grateful to Aussies.
Most shocking to me was seeing the Vietnam Veterans of Australia memorial there. Until I saw it, I never knew about the great participation of Aussies in that conflict either.
(Public skools are ... well, another time)...
hey, Roo?
your stomping grounds.
The Psychotic "Islamic, Suicidal Jerks" are NOT representative of Those Who Represent "Islam!"
If, In Fact, "Islam" is "Represented By" the "Suicidal Fools" who Cheerfully Murder Innocents, then the Entire Belief System is DISCREDITED by the Action of It's Adherents.
Thousands of years of Scholarship REFUTE the concept that "Suicide," or "actions which would harm the Citizens" is Possible under the "Oversight of" Those Who are Beyond the Concept of "Unconditional Citizenship!"
In SHORT, "Suicide" NEGATES the "Value of" ANY "Political Objective;!"
There is No Other "Point" to be Made!!
"Suicide Bombers" Make a "Political Point" Unequalled by ANY Other Statement;--BUT, they are NOT, necessarily RIGHT!!
SADLY, "Just Because You 'BLEW Yourself Up,'--You MAY NOT have achieved Your "Goal!!"
There's a great VietNam movie about Aussies during the war calle "The odd angry shot"
There are NO OTHER Cultures capable of approachimg Our Level of Civilization--PERIOD!!
Attempts by Other Cultures to Emulate "Western Culture" are Worse than Ineffective--They are Pathetic & Dangerous!!
Doc
Thanks for the ref! I hadn't heard about film now.
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