Posted on 11/05/2004 6:57:34 AM PST by Ginifer
Tony Blair today praised the "extraordinary and heroic job" being done by the Black Watch in Iraq after the death of three Scottish soldiers in a suicide bomb attack south of Baghdad.
But the depth of feeling in Scotland itself over the redeployment of a Black Watch battle group was shown by comments from one of the dead soldier's brothers - himself a Black Watch private - who called President Bush "an a***hole" for starting a "war over nothing".
The three dead men were named this morning as Sergeant Stuart Gray, 31, Private Paul Lowe, 19, and Private Scott McArdle, 22. All three men were from Fife.
Private Lowe's 18-year-old brother, Craig, who returned from Basra last month, paid tribute to his "brilliant brother, comrade and friend" and said he had always loved his job.
But he told the Scottish Press Association: "He thought they shouldn't be there, they should all just be back here because it's a war which nobody knows why it was started or what it was done for."
Private Lowe said that his brother had thought little of Mr Bush and his reasons for going to war. He said "He just thought he was an a***hole for starting a war over nothing, trying to get money and oil.
"That’s what we thought ourselves, that’s what Paul thought as well, we all thought that. I think they should just get them all out of there now because if not we are going to lose a lot more than this."
Mary Gray, the mother of Sergeant Stuart Gray said of her son: “He was an experienced and professional soldier, a loving husband, father, son and brother, and a proud member of the Black Watch.”
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
"But the depth of feeling in Scotland itself over the redeployment of a Black Watch battle group was shown by comments from one of the dead soldier's brothers - himself a Black Watch private - who called President Bush "an a***hole" for starting a "war over nothing"."
Apparently some British soldiers feel that a uniform is designed for marching back and forth in front of the Royal cretins.
The incredibly parochial attitude of the Euroweenies towards the menace on the very doorsteps is reminiscent of the Munich mentality.
I guess some Europeans CAN'T learn from history.
Max, I'm going to leave more appropriate Redcoats to deal with your 'slink' and fig leaf' comments.
I'm only here to point out how extraordinarily apt your tag-line is.
Cut him some slack.
Zulu, I only hope you never lose someone close to you and have to understand the meaning of an angry outburst. I don't think there's much capital to be gained from attacking the recently bereaved.
And don't talk to us about history. We've had much more of it than you.
BBC is the British Al-jazeerah.
I must have missed the BBC execution night specials.
The BBC is biased, I had to grit my teeth through the election coverage, but it's not al-Ja-bloody-Zeera. Probably more akin to your CBS.
I must have missed the BBC execution night specials.
The BBC is biased, I had to grit my teeth through the election coverage, but it's not al-Ja-bloody-Zeera. Probably more akin to your CBS.
If he came out with that comment in front of me or my mates or any serving or ex serving he would well dont want to be reported for abuse but what a comment.
I think that comment will pi** of every Brit freeper
"I think that comment will pi** of every Brit freeper"
Yeh...it did.
"I think that comment will pi** of every Brit freeper"
Yeh...it did.
And for your information they requested by the American military, unless you are stating that the American military were interfering in your elections by requesting fig leaves.
I am signing of now but just to reiterate my first point you are a prat
Calm down, mate.
I actually watch BBC America.
A little hyperbole never hurt anyone.
"And don't talk to us about history. We've had much more of it than you."
Our history STARTED with yours - remember? That makes "your" history, "our" history too. Besides I bet I know about "your" history than you do.
And yes, I can understand the grief of a bereaved relative, but that grief is better served by attacking the cause of the dead relative. I'm sick and tired of people, especially Europeans who should know better, knocking the U.S. and our President.
The U.S. can always pull out of the Middle East, withdraw behind the oceans, pull up our borders, kick out all the Muslims here, and watch the Islamic nuts blow Europe to pieces and sweep over it even further than they did in the 700's and later under the Ottomans. Sometimes I wonder why we even bother.
And there are over 1,000 dead Americans in Iraq, so I guess we know about grief too. But I don't think anyone here would even dream of blaming Tony Blair for it.
Sorry. Didn't realize he was so young.
I agree with you.
There is a politically correct slant to this...but we'll never call it the war on Islam.
Because there are some Islamic countries out there that allow us to station troops on their lands and we don't wanna irritate the hell out of them.
Your nation, and it's one that I'm very fond of in spite of all these anti-Brit posts, is a myriad of different cultures set upon a land that was populated for thousands of years. It's history didn't start with ours. But let's not get into that now.
I understand that you're upset about your President taking so many verbal beatings at the moment, I feel a similar rage when I see my country and her troops being trashed by you.
If you want to base your idea of foreign policy and your impression of our nation on the grief-stricken sobs of a newly bereaved squaddie, then so be it. I can't stop you.
Just don't expect it to go past us without comment.
Now, I'm off on holiday for a bit, y'all take care.
But I also agree that the tone coming from across the Atlantic is, as cited elsewhere, an "...incredibly parochial attitude...towards the menace on the very doorsteps (and it) is reminiscent of the Munich mentality."
How can rational people call G. W. Bush a Nazi when the most anti-liberal, anti-secular, monolithic, xenophobic, gender biased, and intolerant "ism" in existance has driven two stolen aircraft into the heart of a major western city and then demanded not only 'tolerance' but surrender? And how can so many europeans (& others) convince themselves that surrender is the appropriate response?
It is imperative that that soldiers understand why they are sacrificing and suffering. Clearly his leadership has failed him in this regard. Our armed forced have a keen understand of the larger situation which is expressed by their overwhelming support for their commander and chief, the very man putting them in harms way.
I am and will remain forever grateful for the support of Great Britain at this historical moment. Thank you.
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