Text 17914, 58 rader
Skriven 2011-05-02 21:09:00 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
  Kommentar till text 17849 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: Generalizations
=======================
Ward Dossche wrote to Robert Bashe on Monday May 02 2011 at 12:19:

WD>>> There were no Dutch forces in Srebrenica...

RB>> Then the history books must have things all mixed up, and the hue and
RB>> cry this affair generated in the Netherlands was totally unjustified.

WD> I will repeat ... that was a UN contingent which just happened to be
WD> from the Netherlands. It just as well could have been from Pakistan or
WD> Kenia.

But it was Dutch. Do you want to deny that?

WD> The mandate only covers light weapons ... handguns, rifles, handheld
WD> machine guns and .50 machine guns.

Is that supposed to impress me?

WD> The UN contingent of troops consisted of 400 lightly armed
WD> peace-keepers. UN peace-keepers are something else than offensive or
WD> defensive forces.

True. They could have requested reinforcements. And a good deal earlier.

WD> They stood no chance against tanks, heavy artillery and thousands of
WD> assault troops.

Which naturally weren't there in an instant. Where were the reinforcements?
Were they even requested?

WD> The UN commander called for air support which couldn't be delivered
WD> due to the weather and they were simpply overrun.

There's always an excuse, as Michiel would say if the troops had been
Americans. Now, _that's_ what really irks me. On the one hand, every mistake
and relatively minor problem of the Americans is blown up to international
proportions and generalized, as if they were "typical" for the USA. On the
other, things that would lead to screams of anger and bitter recriminations
here are swept under the carpet when the subject is a country other than the
USA. You and particularly Bjorn would do well to at least attempt some
semblence of neutrality.

WD>>> I've 2 relatives who took 2 tours of duty as UN peacekeepers in the
WD>>> former Yugoslavia and it isn't as easy and clearcut as you try to
WD>>> make it sound.

RB>> Interesting to hear that - now you know how I feel when Bjorn starts
RB>> in on one of his anti-USA rants.

WD> Björn does no anti-US rants, some people just want it to be that way.

I don't want to think you're that blind, Ward. I'd prefer to believe you're
just trying to play with me.

Cheers, Bob

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