Text 24029, 51 rader
Skriven 2008-11-23 22:59:21 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
  Kommentar till text 24022 av Ross Cassell (1:123/456)
Ärende: Re: The New National Anthem
===================================
Ross,
 
RC> I omitted the USA involvement in WW2 because I know mentioning the US
RC> makes Michiel agitated. My point was, when Germany for all practical
RC> intents and purposes captured and occupied nearly all of Western Europe,
RC> the war looked pretty bleak and unwinnable.
 
Granted. The way my parents related about it is that their parents who had
lived through WW1 were horified. Both my grandfathers fought in the trenches
and survived. One uncle went MIA.
 
People thought that the Germans were coming back and had a list of Belgian
veterans with them from WW1 and would single them out for execution.
 
So my grandfathers decided to flee to France and packed their belongings on
tandem-bikes to ride them south. Except ... the Blitzkrieg went so fast that
the Germans already were where my grandfathers figured they were heading
themselves. So they stayed home, the town was surrendered without a fight and
they were not bothered at all.
 
What I remember especially from my late mother is that it is one thing to talk
about WW2, but a totally different thing to having lived through it under
occupation.
 
RC> Yes that was stupid, considering that when events happen abroad we have
RC> been known to throw assets in that direction, we should not consider
RC> ourselves beyond the need for assistance when mother nature or man wreaks
RC> their fury.
 
It's a lot better to be able to give than having to receive relief-aid.
 
RC> You know something I wish our Navy would be ordered to do, with the
RC> assistance of the European Navies, is to immediately sail to and blockade
RC> the Somali Coast to protect the shipping lanes from the Pirates, with
RC> orders to shoot and kill them.
 
Exactly. This must stop.
 
I think we have one or two frigates there, the Russians have hardware there,
the Brits too, the US (I think) undoubtedly as well. I cannot comprehend that
all this intelligent weaponry wouldn't be able to deal with a rag-tag band in
hard-bottomed inflatables.
 
RC> Or at least send Michiel over there to talk them to death.
 
8-) ... or Roy Witt and bore 'm to death.
 
 \%/@rd

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