Posted on 03/09/2002 4:42:37 PM PST by Pokey78
I don't know about that, it may be true, but the deal is, we can't find out until the EU and Brazil stop subsidizing exported steel. That's what I keep hearing about.
There is a lot of comment over here about Bush having compromised a principle. Of course, if it turns out he's not a free trader, that weakens him politically in the country, because it makes him less a principled free-trader than a Chamber of Commerce cheerleader instead -- "What's good for General Bullmoose, is good for the U.S.A.!" and all that.
Will UK troops be made available? Maybe, but don't count on it. As you keep saying, you don't need us anyway.
Yeah, but as I was telling someone on another thread, it's funny how a year ago, Mr. Fox of Mexico was American's new "best friend", and the Canadians and Brits were trying to pick up their jaws and saying to each other, "what, are we chopped liver, then?" But when the balloon went up, guess who was in the house when President Bush went before Congress? Tony Blair. And don't think we didn't notice. We noticed that it's always the same old faces that seem to keep showing up, when it starts going into the fan and our "new best friends" suddenly remember they had somewhere to go and something to do.
When people start putting on the brass knuckles and telling you what they're going to do to your sister when they get done with you,.... guess who's got your back?
ROTFLMAO!!!!
Thanks! I'm still laughing!
Tony
Yet again Tony, what is the TA doing at the moment, are they making ready for stand by.
So, you serve? or still serving?
<sighs> Another European who doesn't get it. But that's okay.
The military function of the militia in U.S. history has been a) protection against Indians and other groups of predators, and b) against a force of regulars, to deny them the use of the countryside and easy access to people and resources, and to confront only if necessary or advisable.
An example of the latter is the campaign of General Burgoyne through upstate New York, who descended from Canada along what turned out to be an arduous trail that taxed his engineers, but which they nevertheless succeeded in cutting down to the valley of the Hudson. They were supposed to descend the Hudson and effect a junction with British forces then quartering (another thing we don't allow any more) in New York. The militia opposed Burgoyne much of the way, harrying him continually, and standing up to him at Bennington. They lost at Bennington, one of the biggest battles of the American Revolution, but their objective wasn't necessarily to win, but to impose a Pyrrhic victory. It had the desired effect, and after meeting the militia again with the American regulars at Oriskany, Burgoyne was undone, the Americans having meanwhile prevented his communicating with New York.
The function of the militia is not to fight and win a stand-up fight with an enemy formation. Short of that, it can do a lot. Rudyard Kipling seemed to think pretty well of our system: he visited the country in the 1890's, and formed the opinion that a Great Powers expedition against the continent would have only one outcome: "They would die." He got it right.
I've never seen the Mirror, I'd expect it of The Guardian. Saw the Sun once, don't remember their editorial policy, but she was awesome.
Hell no! I burned my draft card and ran to canada ( kidding)
Before I carry on, i'm British not European.
I know fully the capabilities of the militia, much in the same way the maquis chose to conduct there operations during WW2. I was merely answering to another post made on this thread, and stating that conflicts (and enemies) are different today to the stand toe to toe fights of the 18th and 19th centuries. If the Whole US armed forces were to be deployed overseas, there is not much a militia would do against some of the tactics used by the enemies of the US. I was pointing to a WTC style attack. Something a militia would be no good against.
Our steel industry is about to become history. I would very much hate to see this country, in time of war, have to depend on foreign imports of steel. How we got there is our own fault, but it would not be prudent for us to be without a basic industry. In that context we must look out for our own safety.
Cheers Tony
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