War between Australia and the USA and/or the UK

[formerlyknownasprince]

Hey fellas - I just realised.... We seem to be the only ones around that haven't been at war with either of you (US and/or UK) over the years. You and the Canadians have even had a poke at each other at one time haven't you?

I reckon we must have you blokes running scared!

Or is it just that we're nice fellas? :D

Ian

[PeterSibley]

Don't give them ideas Ian :eek:

[BrianW]

You got oil? :D

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Britain has been responsible for the deaths of a great many Canadians and Newfoundlanders (not always the same thing) in war, but that was because they were fighting for us.

We came quite close to hostilities with Australia over cricket in the 1930s, and it is unwise to mention the name of Winston Churchill after an Aussie has had a few pints, but that's about all, so far...

[skuthorp]

Not to mention bodyline and Gen Douglas Haig, (butcher)

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Hey, that does it! I just did mention bodyline!

****** sheepshaggers! ;)

Rugby World Cup and the Ashes to you! ;)

Seriously, I gather that Haig is now getting re-re-evaluated and the latest word from the historians is that he was not so bad after all.

[skuthorp]

I remember wqatching older Aussies spit on his statue in the forecourt of Edinborough Castle

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

That'd be "Edinburgh" to you mate.

[PeterSibley]

and I can remember Dad on the subject of Churchhill :D not really a popular fellow ;)

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Oddly enough, Haig was not unpopular with the men who served under him. The vilification of Haig and the other generals came much later, about when the Great War was re-named the First World War.

[formerlyknownasprince]

Now we could drag the Americans in when they get up for brekkie. MacArthur doesn't win many popularity contests.

[cedar savage]

Bring it on!

But wait until I've had my second cuppa, please.

Whupp 'ya with one hand holdin my coffee mug.

I can see it now, the Stars and Stripes flying proudly from the top of Ayers Rock. Then we'll put it up for sale on eBay. Round up all them koala bears and sell 'em. Ship in rabbits. Establish prohibition. Teach y'all proper American speech.

Just as long as it doesn't become a battle of wits, 'cause I know that in that area I'm out of ammunition.

[Bob Smalser]

Originally posted by igatenby:
MacArthur doesn't win many popularity contests.Here neither, actually. Especially with Bataan vets. That doesn't mean he wasn't effective, however....he accomplished more with fewer casualties than any of his contemporaries in either theater.

One has to go back to 1812 for open warfare, Canada being settled at the time by thousands of American Loyalists over which there was a lot of bitterness remaining from the 1780's.

Hosted a British general once at Fort Benning, and his guest quarters featured a painting of the Battle of New Orleans. He was quick to point out that as a member of the Shropshire Regiment, it was his forebearers that burned the White House in 1814. The next day my general, no fan of Clinton at the time, invited him to do it again.

[ 12-14-2005, 06:38 AM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[formerlyknownasprince]

Geez - its happening by stealth - I've got a Yank living next door now - moved in with an Aussie bird!

[formerlyknownasprince]

Fort Benning - is that where the Doctrine wing is? My main defence contact here (a recently retired Colonel) was posted there for a while IIRC.

Ian

[Bob Smalser]

Originally posted by igatenby:
Fort Benning - is that where the Doctrine wing is? My main defence contact here (a recently retired Colonel) was posted there for a while IIRC.

IanInfantry doctrine, yes.

Combined Arms doctrine is done at Ft Leavenworth, Kansas.

My British friend was the new commander at Catterick's infantry training center and his Shropshires were "foot" or light infantry.

Light infantry means the unit's maintenance section contains cobblers instead of wheel or track mechanics.

[ 12-14-2005, 06:50 AM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Reminds me of walking round the remains of the Summer Palace, in Beijing, with some Chinese colleagues. Every building has a plaque on it reading, "Burned down by the imperialist forces of France and Britain in 1863".

I remarked "So what? We burned down the White House in 1812, but the Americans don't go on about it!"

"That's different!" they replied, "That was a family matter!" :D

[skuthorp]

During the war between the states the Confederate warship "Shannendoah" turned up in Port Philip one morning. After some civil entertainment and a few supplies she left again but the authorities had kittens and established the Victorian Navy with an old ship of the line, a converted china river steamer and eventually HMVS Cerberus, a Monitor and the most powerful warship in the southern Hemisphere at the time supposedly

[Ken Hutchins]

Geez - its happening by stealth - I've got a Yank living next door now - moved in with an Aussie bird! There is another Yank living in QLD a transplant from right here in New Hampshire. :D

[George.]

Originally posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett:
Oddly enough, Haig was not unpopular with the men who served under him. The vilification of Haig and the other generals came much later...You could say that about Goering.

The Somme maybe one could forgive him - no one knew how it would play out. At Ypres in 1917, he knew, and still wanted to play...

[Meerkat]

The cogent question here is: what the hell would anybody want with Australia? ;) :D

It's a nasty desert surrounded by a thin fringe of semi-habitable territory that's short on water as it is!

Every other critter is poisonous!

AND they talk funny! ;) ;)

[TomF]

Dunno Meer, but I'd annex the wineries.

[George.]

I's take the wine, the GB reef, the wild empty spaces, the cosmopolitan cities, the surf, the good food, the informality...

[paladin]

Skuthorp.....here we refer to that war as the war of Northern agression....

[Rick Tyler]

Originally posted by TomF:
Dunno Meer, but I'd annex the wineries.And the Wicked Weasel factory.

[shamus]

We're just getting our tank out of the garage, you blokes, so watch it. We're gonna hold you at the Far Canal.

[Wild Wassa]

Real trouble has been expected here, for quite some time. The real 'Enterprise' also a super carrier, was refitted weeks ago, incase there is trouble.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid160/p63e70711781a3c0c9ba15521e8db7b75/f4e1f2e3.jpg


After the results of the 'Kangaroo Joint Excercises' in the Northern Territory (all bongs have been confiscated) and there is one super power who knows not to bother coming if they don't want to be embarassed one more time ... over here everyone inhales.

Warren.

[ 12-14-2005, 07:46 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[formerlyknownasprince]

AND - I've got an Abrams M1 bumper sticker (genuine manufacturers item!) so WATCH OUT.

Ian

[shamus]

Here comes the motorised division..

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c376/Shamus5519/sheep01.jpg

[PeterSibley]

The cogent question here is: what the hell would anybody want with Australia? [Wink] [Big Grin]

It's a nasty desert surrounded by a thin fringe of semi-habitable territory that's short on water as it is!

Every other critter is poisonous!

AND they talk funny! [Wink]

Absolutely correct Meer !! ;) George ...your're wrong for once , its a shockin' place ! smile.gif

[doorstop]

Absolutelery cerrectaroony..... shocking hole, flies, snakes, Wild dDingoes and all sorts of other scary stuff and the weather's shocking too.... DON"T COME HERE! tongue.gif

[Wild Wassa]

Originally posted by shamus:
"Here comes the motorised division."

Shamus, I'm quite impressed with the low visibillity camouflage shown on the new vehicles ... in their Blue Mountain's #1 colour scheme.

[ 12-14-2005, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]