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 ...
What a sick and twisted thing to say.
That said, you did not answer my question.
Another typical smart ass quote of a British military man.
"You could call them professional if you want, but as far as I’m concerned they’re nothing of the sort," snarled our tutor"
If you don't want your forces dissed by Americans, you better tell your guys to stop dishing it out to Americans.
Otherwise, go tell it to the Marines.
Dont play with words How many British soldiers were killed and wounded in Basra again....I forget. Is a sarcastic and twisted.
"Some of these impressions are no doubt partly informed by what they read in British newspapers, which have taken great pride in portraying "Our Boys" as softly-softly heroes and the Yanks as trigger-happy cowboys."
You reap what you sow. Your papers portray your lads as softly-softly heroes and the Yanks as trigger-happy cowboys.
We will see if the Black Watch will hang; I doubt they will.
Apparently NOT!!!
Terrible isn't it when pesky little things like details ruin a discussion.
Terrible isn't it when pesky little things like details ruin a discussion.
Sorry about double post.
Get into uniform go out there and show us how its done
Get into uniform go out there and show us how its done
"he claimed that the Black watch was mover up there to help in your general election"
I did no such thing.
As I have already explained to you, the fig leaf remark was in regard to having British troops in Iraq generally, not in regard to moving the Black Watch north.
I think that when the Rats point out that Iraq is essentially an American operation, they are correct. All the foreign troops, including the British troops are in Iraq to give us cover, not because we need them to win the war.
I do not think that Bush wanted the Black Watch moved north in order to help him in the election. It was never an election issue in this country. All the politics about the move north is in your country, not ours.
I think that the American military would very much appreciate the help that having the Black Watch help them up north and that is why they asked for the help and the British military is willing to help out. All the politics involved with this issue are British politics and I think that British public opinion will force Blair to pull the Black Watch out if there are more casualties.
We well see if I am right or wrong. I hope there are no more casualties, but the very fact that your leftist politicians have made this move a big public issue makes it more likely that the terrorists will kill more Black Watch troops in order to take advantage of your politicians going wobbly.
He volunteered to be a British soldier.
What did he think all that running around shooting rifles in training was about?
Tiddlywinks?
Still, I am thankful that they came and helped us when we needed them most, but they were never anything more than a fig leaf. Now that the election is over, we don't need the fig leaf and they will be leaving soon.
Mean what is this talk about election.
There is a real shortage of troops the American military need more recruits, so get your self a pair go down there and enlist.
After Sept 11th I reupped wasnt my country, but as an ally I wanted to do my bit.
So you do your bit.
Heaven forbid that when someone joins the military they might actually be required to pick up a weapon.
If the Black Watch is such a bad outfit why are their members such whiners? Have the Black Watch stop slamming our guys and we will reciprocate. What you see here is Americans sticking up for our military fighters.
Something your press needs to spread to it's citizens.
A 19 year old private makes a statement saying "THE AMERICANS SEEM TO HAVE RUINED IT", which perfectly reflects the general British attitude toward American troops in Iraq.
He feels perfectly comfortable saying this to a journalist because he knows that almost everyone reading the quote will agree with him and that he will catch no $hit from his officers, since they also agree with him. In fact, he probably learned it from his officers.
They just need to get of our soldiers backs and stop stabbing them in it.
Very unprofessional of them if you ask me.
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