Don't be sad, zippyt, one out of two ain't bad....

Rhyming slang gives us Septic Tanks for Yanks (only for comedic effect, not maliciously)

I prefer Mary Queens. For the same reason I will sometimes exchange the words recipe and receipt or use prize for present - it amuses me.

You forgot Marine, for life. ;)

that, and this,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6193620.stm

is why I deplore Americans.

British soldiers have never done anything like this before? Or Australian even for that matter?

And you wonder? :rolleyes:

Pass on the ausies.....

As for the Brits, ever since Bloody Sunday our rules of engagement have been very rigerous. It's a difference in attitude and training.

American armed forces are drilled in the 'protect your buddies' ethos: thus, any perceived is responded to with lethal force. The UK armed forces are proabally more mindful of the risk to civilian and non-combatant casualities due to the the fact that much of their battle experience occurred within the UK.

Yes but still, there will always be casualties of war. People who're killed in error. Doesn't mean I think it's right or fair. It''s just a fact.

Indeed so, Ali. It just seems to me that certain nations in the coalition forces are more prone to error than others.

Perhaps. But maybe it's just that those nations have more soldiers there so of course the incidence of error is higher.

The reason I say that is because I think that soldiers the world over have a certain view of the world, and it really doesn't matter which country they're from. There's still a certain base way of going about the job they have to do. Maybe the word I'm looking for is ''gungho" in their attitude.

Yes, I think you put your finger on it.

The British Army does all it can to eliminate the 'gungho' attitude.....

and yes, you are also right that the Americans have more troops there, and in the toughest areas.

But still...... levelling a family dwelling with tank rounds because there are snipers on the roof shooting at your armoured tank does seem a tad excessive... perhaps the continual 'pinging' on the armour was giving the brave lads a headache.....

Maybe, or maybe they simply didn't realize the likely/possible consequences of their actions at the time.

It's important to remember Jay, that what you read isn't always the whole story, or even much of it.

Also, remember again, try not to judge a whole nation by the actions of a few.

I think 1 is the most likely.... (it was a multiple choice test, n'est pas?)



as for 2. most of my news comes from the beeb. I surf sky, cnn, reuters and nova, but the thing with the beeb is that they never put out a bulletine unless it's been verified at least three ways. so, they're often late with a story, but you can believe it.


and, yes i do realize (see how I use the zee to connect with my yankee cousins) that the armed forces of the USA are not indicative of the majority of the populace, who are totally untrained in the use of fire-arms but nevertheless demand the right to carry them.

Do you just like making life hard for yourself Jay?