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Marines Speak Up For British Troops
Belfast Telegraph ^ | 9/7/2009 | Terri Judd

Posted on 09/07/2009 8:51:56 PM PDT by Saije

Two months ago, 4,000 US Marines descended upon the Afghan village of Garmsir in southern Afghanistan and managed to take the territory over which the British had battled over for three years. Go big, go strong, go fast, their Brigadier General, Lawrence Nicholson, had ordered – and they did.

Yet yesterday there was a notable absence of arrogance among the new inhabitants of the British military's most southerly and often most lethal front. The Marines speak with nothing but respect for those who held this ground in far fewer numbers – the British servicemen who passed, as some might say, this poisoned chalice on to them. If anything, there is muted admiration for how they coped with less equipment, particularly with their vehicles. *****

Once they got over the "incomprehensible" accents, the Marines said, they began trading in time-honoured tradition; Marines gleefully swapping Light Dragoon or Mercian Regiment T-shirts and badges for their own, or their ration packs for a British one.

"You guys have got cool ass MREs [ration packs]. That tropical drink mix, tell them they need to ship that to America," said L/Cpl Browne who confessed to a new-found love for Scotch eggs.

Most of all, they stood in wide-eyed jealousy of the fact that the British, unlike the US Marines, allow women attachments to frontline units.

(Excerpt) Read more at belfasttelegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; british; marines; military; uktroops
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1 posted on 09/07/2009 8:51:57 PM PDT by Saije
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To: Saije

the fact that the British, unlike the US Marines, allow women attachments to frontline units.

I guess the boys just didn’t have anything to swap...


2 posted on 09/07/2009 8:54:14 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: tet68

heheh...


3 posted on 09/07/2009 8:56:28 PM PDT by rlmorel (You cannot reap the benefits right now of the planning ahead you didn't do in the past.)
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To: Saije
FWIW the actual title of this article was:

We pity the Brits, say US Marines in Afghanistan


4 posted on 09/07/2009 9:30:35 PM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: tet68

Follow the rules here. Post the pics.


5 posted on 09/07/2009 9:34:17 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: SeeSharp

Did I violate a posting rule? I know that’s the headline
but couldn’t actually find that quote in the article.


6 posted on 09/07/2009 9:35:22 PM PDT by Saije
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To: tet68

Josephus Daniels has a lot to answer for too.

Australian ships can often get quite a few million dollars worth of fuel paid for by US taxpayers, just by offering invitations to the wardroom - and by the way, let’s have a RASEX (Replenishment At Sea Exercise) while we’re at it.

All for a few bottles of Jack (as opposed to Josephus) Daniels.

And on another note - it’s interesting that all those who predicted Dire Consequences should women be allowed in combat have been silent recently. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and the more US forces operate in conjunction with allies, the more lessons can be learnt. Sometimes it’s about what works, despite the “traditionalist” prophets-of-doom. And sometimes it’s about what doesn’t work, but is just liberal PC BS.

Not every lesson can be applied in a US context, American society may be fundamentally different in some ways. But it should at least give food-for-thought.


7 posted on 09/07/2009 9:38:30 PM PDT by Zoe Brain (Rocket Scientist, Naval Combat System Architect)
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To: SeeSharp; Admin Moderator

Wrong title here.


8 posted on 09/07/2009 9:41:07 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: Zoe Brain; tet68
Josephus Daniels has a lot to answer for too.

He has a lot more than you can imagine to answer for to the people of North Carolina through his execrable newspaper and political legacy...

9 posted on 09/07/2009 9:48:55 PM PDT by tarheelswamprat
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To: Saije

Every encounter I had with the Brits during my career was a positive one. They are true professionals in every sense. You could do alot worse than having a Brit share your fighting hole.


10 posted on 09/07/2009 11:15:41 PM PDT by sean327 (All men are created equal, then some become Marines!)
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To: Saije
Eternally grateful to members of All branches of the United States Military, our Allies and all who hold Freedom and Liberty dear.


11 posted on 09/07/2009 11:28:44 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: Saije

it’s a misleading title..

Bless those limeys who fight alongside our troops.


12 posted on 09/07/2009 11:48:50 PM PDT by max americana (i)
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To: Saije

This almost sounds like the Brits are trying to convince themselves and everyone else of the great job they are doing.

I dont think its necessary to use the F word spelled out for us to know what is being said.

Not impressed.


13 posted on 09/07/2009 11:54:12 PM PDT by Bulldawg Fan (Victory is the last thing Murtha and his fellow Defeatists want.)
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To: Saije

The money quote about the strategic situation:

“They knew what they should do, they just didn’t have the resources to do it.”

IOW, the Brit troops are bad azz, but the Brit pols are even more worthless than ours, hard as that is to believe.

But then again, freeper nation knew that...


14 posted on 09/08/2009 12:14:20 AM PDT by piytar (Bussing in SEIU brownshirts to intimidate regular Americans is REAL FASCISM! NRA Lifetime Member)
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To: Saije
Three cheers for the Brits

Hip hip, hooray
Hip hip, hooray
Hip hip, hooray

Semper Fi

15 posted on 09/08/2009 12:36:27 AM PDT by csense
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To: Saije
"You guys have got cool ass MREs [ration packs]. That tropical drink mix, tell them they need to ship that to America," said L/Cpl Browne who confessed to a new-found love for Scotch eggs.

This must be a case of "the other man's grass is always greener". The standard trope amongst americans is that British food = bad.

Personally, as a Brit, I find it hard that anyone could fall in love with scotch eggs, but there you go...

16 posted on 09/09/2009 6:22:48 AM PDT by Vanders9
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To: Vanders9
The standard trope amongst americans is that British food = bad.

In my case, at least, that "trope" didn't survive my first 24 hours in "Merry Olde". Never had a bad meal over there. You can keep the bangers, though, and the fried bread.

17 posted on 09/09/2009 6:28:24 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Vanders9

“Personally, as a Brit, I find it hard that anyone could fall in love with scotch eggs, but there you go...”

Ha! I don’t even know what they are.


18 posted on 09/09/2009 6:59:25 AM PDT by Saije
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To: Bulldawg Fan

Please do spell. Im interested.


19 posted on 09/09/2009 2:02:49 PM PDT by Vanders9
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To: Saije

...then I shall not enlighten you! Ignorance, as they say, is BLISS.... :)


20 posted on 09/09/2009 2:04:04 PM PDT by Vanders9
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