Posted on 03/18/2002 11:24:43 AM PST by Blunderfromdownunder
The contributions and ultmate sacrifices made by the individual soldiers is no different, no matter whether you serve in the massive US forces or the tiny NZ army.
When the bully was dishing out his punishment to his victim in the school playground, the victim was happy for any support, no matter how big or small. Anything that would tip the scales in his favour. America was the victim of a bully on 9/11, but the bully didn't really understand the capabilities of his victim, and the support his victim would receive. Lets hope peoples attitude in the US doesn't turn into that of the bully, because that would be sad. Thats the way I see it.
Den.
Best wishes from NZL!
Bracero program was a long ago program to bring Mexican workers into the US.
Obviously, farm labor.
Government required some controls on both sides - reasonable housing etc. and return after the growing season.
Lots of people gamed the program but at least is set some ground rules.
Program was killed way back when (meaining I don't remember when) largely because liberals thought it was not nice,
demeaning,
all that stuff.
No one at the time recognized that it was just a step toward this open border drek that even our not-really-a-liberal (but honest) president just might favor today.
Please note my words before jumping into the thght panties thing...
"being largely OK folk lulled by their isolation and lack of natural enemies, there is always hope for the future."
You can't argue the isolation and lack of natural enemies part, and if you want to argue the "OK folk" element you are insulting a lot of very good people I met in a year and a half in Vietnam working with your Air Force.
Chill,
please.
Too bad that we can't manage to say thanks for even a small (but quite capable) contribution. Also too bad that NZ has gone so far down the socialist chute over the past 25 or so years.
It's OK, you can say it :-)
Blunder said :
Norton, NZ has been a socialist country since at least the 1930's; that fact did not stop us form serving with distinction in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, the Sinai, the Gulf, Bosnia, East Timor, or anywhere else we were dragged off to by other peoples squabbles and F*-ups
Add to that South Africa, WW1, Malaysia, Borneo, Namibia and a few others. It's interesting that New Zealand has never been directly attacked, yet has proven historically to happily ship its forces overseas as you say to assist others. New Zealand suffered more casualties in the second world war per head of population bar Russia. It is also noted that New Zealand blood (and that of allies) was being shed during WW2 while the US sat on it's hands until it was attacked at Pearl.
New Zealand is not a socialist country per-se, otherwise this description could be leveled at any Western democratic country whenever a left-wing government has it's time in office. Is Australia a socialist country because it has had socialist governments from time to time? Or the UK, with it's current socialist government- does that make the country socialist by nature? I don't think so.
Right wing governments have held office in New Zealand for more terms than the left wing in the last century.
aimlow said :
At least the australians have a robust 30,000 man army, air force, navy Considering that New Zealand is getting rid of it's air force and navy, it is nice to see that they have the ability to train such an elite unit of 25 men.
Er, no, aimlow, not getting rid of them.
The following article in the March 21 2002 Sydney Morning Herald doesn't paint a very robust picture of the ADF- this one here
15 years is not long.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.