"We Shall Fight on the Beaches... We Shall Never Surrender"

Another great oratory for the ages...

1 posted on 09/21/2001 12:01:56 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

If I may fix this bit up a little...

"The British Empire and the American Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength."

Just sends chills down your spine, don't it?

2 posted on 09/21/2001 12:05:13 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

To: StoneColdGOP

Yes it does. And I think people on both sides of the Atlantic are thinking this way - Blair was just on television 2 minutes ago drawing parallels between the attack and the Blitz, saying that this cannot be allowed to stand.

We are with you in this; we know what kind of suffering you have endured. You can rely on us.

Regards, Ivan

3 posted on 09/21/2001 12:09:30 PM PDT by MadIvan

To: StoneColdGOP

If you want to listen to this speech and others by Winston Churhill go to http://www.earthstation1.simplenet.com/churchil.html He's quite a speaker. When you listen you can notice his speach impediment. He lisps and was embarrassed by it but it didn't stop him from being an effective speaker..

4 posted on 09/21/2001 12:11:46 PM PDT by airedale

If you don't want to look through all his speeches the June 4, 1940: (Archived 2/6/99) - The famous "Fight on the Beaches" speech delivered before the House of Commons regarding the demise of France and the low countries, the debacle at Dunkirk and the egress of the British Expeditionary Force from the European mainland, and the readiness and resolve of Britain to resist invasion is here: http://www.earthstation1.simplenet.com/pgs/churchill/dos-wc400604.ram.html.

5 posted on 09/21/2001 12:16:54 PM PDT by airedale

I tell you, up until September 11th Tony Blair hadn't exactly impressed me as PM, but now... seeing and hearing what I have from him, from the Queen and from the British people, my confidence and trust in him and our great allies across the Atlantic couldn't be stronger.

6 posted on 09/21/2001 12:18:16 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

Thank you! I didn't know that he had a speech impediment.

7 posted on 09/21/2001 12:19:35 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

To: StoneColdGOP

Bookmarked.

Thanks.

8 posted on 09/21/2001 12:29:11 PM PDT by ppaul

To: Mr.B.Goes.To.Washington

9 posted on 09/21/2001 12:31:59 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

To: StoneColdGOP

10 posted on 09/21/2001 12:41:02 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

To: StoneColdGOP

We have found it necessary to take measures of increasing stringency, not only against enemy aliens and suspicious characters of other nationalities, but also against British subjects who may become a danger or a nuisance should the war be transported to the United Kingdom. I know there are a great many people affected by the orders which we have made who are the passionate enemies of Nazi Germany. I am very sorry for them, but we cannot, at the present time and under the present stress, draw all the distinctions which we should like to do. If parachute landings were attempted and fierce fighting attendant upon them followed, these unfortunate people would be far better out of the way, for their own sakes as well as for ours. There is, however, another class, for which I feel not the slightest sympathy. Parliament has given us the powers to put down Fifth Column activities with a strong hand, and we shall use those powers subject to the supervision and correction of the House, without the slightest hesitation until we are satisfied, and more than satisfied, that this malignancy in our midst has been effectively stamped out.

I wonder how long it will be before we hear similar words from W.?

-ccm

11 posted on 09/21/2001 1:03:06 PM PDT by ccmay

You won't. The game isn't quite the same. The Taliban Army isn't sitting 20 miles off our shores waiting to invade with a force of thousands ready to conquer us. Nor does the Taliban Air Force lurk in our skies on bombing and strafing raids.

12 posted on 09/21/2001 1:11:17 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

13 posted on 09/21/2001 1:55:11 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

To: StoneColdGOP

The game isn't quite the same.

Thanks for the ping...as always Churchill is a great read.

As for the impending conflict...I'm apprehensive as I was before Desert Storm.
I dreaded the thought that our generally untested military, equipped with these
whiz-bang weapons developed starting with Jimmy Carter/Sec.Def Brown were
going to be total duds...and our forces would be caught naked and undefended,
bleeding in the sand.

As formidable as the Afghanistan fighters and the terrain is, and the drubbing
the USSR/Russia took...I feel some reason for optimism.

1. "Adults" are running the show...this is what James Webb said in giving a generally
optimistic forecast of the coming campaign.
2. We learned from what happened in Kuwait/Iraq.
3. We know all about the actual weapons (we gave a lot of them to them) and tactics used.
(from all the Russians officers living in the USA now).

And
4. The Afghans haven't yet dealt with a military equipped with stealth technology
in terms of planes, bombs that can be guided by lasers, and relatively large numbers of
infantry soldiers that can travel throughout the night with night-vision goggles and
rifles.

I will be shocked if this is over in less than 2-3 years, but if I were bin Laden
or any Afghani, I'd play it safe:
Don't go outside during the day.
Don't go outside at night.
And start praying hard on nights without any moonlight.

Just my naive thoughts...I welcome opinions that might correct any defects in
my ruminations.

Actually, my secret plan for the campaign would be to subdue an area of Kabul,
bring in the SeaBees and have them construct a couple of city blocks with indoor
plumbing, flush toilets, phones and 25" televisions, with cable/satellites.
Then capture a couple hundred Afghanis and "imprison" them there with
food from McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.

Once they figured out what they'd been missing, they'd be asking for chance to
execute their Taliban overlords and Osama.

(OK, it's a dream, but I do have the faith that inside most people who hate the USA
is simply the desire to have our creature comforts.)

14 posted on 09/21/2001 2:38:13 PM PDT by VOA

To: StoneColdGOP

I didn’t either until I'd visited the site mentioned in the first message. I found the Winston Churchill site a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for something else. I sent the link on to some of my other Toastmaster club members.. That's were I also found the audio version of the speeches. I've listened to a number of them. Because most of Americans aren't really familiar with an English accent we often miss it. Also very seldom do you get a big dose of Churchill speaking. Once you know he lisped you can filter out the accent and notice the lisp. It certainly didn't stop him from being a great speaker and an effective leader.

15 posted on 09/21/2001 8:03:22 PM PDT by airedale

Interesting. Lisp or not, hearing the man speak is indeed inspiring!

Bump for Churchill!

16 posted on 09/21/2001 9:28:16 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

An interesting set of plans! But yes, of course they hate us for who and what we are, and for what we have.

17 posted on 09/22/2001 1:04:05 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

To: StoneColdGOP

One parallel, however, is the fifth columnists. We have more to contend with in America than Sir Winston ever did in the United Kingdom. Much, perhaps most, of this war will be fought on American soil against our own fifth columnists. Most will not wear beards, turbans or even look like they're from the middle east. Some are sitting in positions of power and responsibility in government, media and education as we write.

18 posted on 09/26/2001 11:40:28 PM PDT by Vigilanteman

To: StoneColdGOP

Thanks for postng the speech!

19 posted on 09/26/2001 11:50:18 PM PDT by SSgt Mike

To: StoneColdGOP

No, they are here among us...

20 posted on 09/26/2001 11:58:11 PM PDT by Cold Heat

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