In the heat and dust (THE BLACK WATCH AT WAR)

The Scotsman ^ | April 26, 2003 | GETHIN CHAMBERLAIN

[MadIvan]

Remarkable.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[AnAmericanMother]

Wow!

Some things never change. Sounds like my dad's stories of house-to-house fighting in the little towns in Italy in the winter of 43-44.

[Pukka Puck]

"None who witnessed the scene could fail to be moved in some way by that first glimpse of the seemingly endless columns of tanks and armoured vehicles, ammunition trucks and fuel wagons, Land Rovers and ambulances and all the other odds and ends that made up the Black Watch battle group as it began the journey that would end in Basra."

Damn, Basra is just over the border from Kuwait. Not much of a journey.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I understand that this interesting article was written for British consumption, but (paraphrasing) "George Bush sounding less than Presidential???" How insulting!

It is obvious that this writer does not understand Americans, Texans, or the Bush family. They say what they mean and they mean what they say -- no mincing or parsing of words. And most of us consider President George W. Bush a breath of fresh air and quite Presidential, thank you very much.

That human anomoly, Clinton, which many Brits are so entranced by is such a disgusting piece of filth that the only Brit that he should associate with is your MP, the treasonous Galloway! And Mr. Galloway would be stooping to a new low!

[MinuteGal]

A gripping, earthy story to be told and retold someday by the Black Watch unsung heroes to their children and grandchildren.

Bless them all!

Leni

[Pukka Puck]

"And then all of a sudden the war came to us and we were scrabbling for our gas masks and pulling them on and jumping into the trenches that the diggers were frantically excavating around the camp."

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to start digging. It seems like those trenches should have been dug while they were sitting on their asses listening to Blair sounding Presidential and Bush sounding less so.

[bybybill]

Yup. sure was an easy war, alright. GOD bless the Aussies and Brits

[MadIvan]

Damn, Basra is just over the border from Kuwait. Not much of a journey.

Are you done insulting the bravery of the British troops yet? You are beneath contempt as it is, don't explore even deeper levels.

Ivan

[MEG33]

Great read..I love our straight talking President and forgive national pride,here.

[MadIvan]

National pride is one thing. Insulting the bravery, honour and decency of British troops is another.

Regards, Ivan

[Pukka Puck]

"Sometimes they would never be defeated."

Curious sentence. I wonder what it means.

[MadIvan]

Curious sentence. I wonder what it means.

First master finding your arse with both hands before you start analysing anything deeper than that.

Ivan

[Pukka Puck]

"At least the Iraqis knew that now they meant business."

Better late than never.

[MadIvan]

Better late than never.

If you are trying to goad me to the point of saying something that will get me banned, forget it, gobshite.

Ivan

[Pukka Puck]

Facts are stubborn things.

What is Basra, maybe thirty miles from the border of Kuwait? Most folks in Texas commute back and forth to work more than thirty miles every morning and evening. They don't say that they are about to set out on a "journey" when they head off to work in the morning.

[Pukka Puck]

"Insulting the bravery, honour and decency of British troops is another."

I quite agree, which is why I have never done so. On the other hand, I seem to remember a story that you posted and defended that insulted the decency of American Special Forces.

[MEG33]

I don't like it either.I was referring to the Bush not sounding Presidential comment.I believe the Brits were great! I have no patience with slurs against our allied forces.

[MadIvan]

What is Basra, maybe thirty miles from the border of Kuwait? Most folks in Texas commute back and forth to work more than thirty miles every morning and evening. They don't say that they are about to set out on a "journey" when they head off to work in the morning.

If you think driving into enemy territory is the same as commuting to your job in Texas, then I suggest you consult your psychiatrist immediately. Obviously you have "issues".

Ivan

[Happygal]

``Better late than never.''

Pukka, why are you saying this? Every time the British troops are mentioned in articles, you come up with cynical criticism. (Of course, most of the articles about the British troops posted on Freerepublic are from the British press)

Every time, you come up with a remark that is snide in the least, and contemptible at the worst.

Having talked to you about this on other threads, you say that you 'appreciate' the work done by British troops. And yet, you continue to derride them with sarcastic one-liners with little substance.

Why not come out and say what's up yer snot?