The Franc & DM Connection

[reconeil]

Even though both France and Germany are being unarguably arrogant, despicable and gutless regarding Iraq,...at least such is understandable. Both are large industrial nations which have been supplying backward Iraq with EVERYTHING (legally or otherwise and possibly even military secrets),...must be in the VERY MANY BILLION$, at minimum.

Then too, and since both France and Germany both have SOCIALISTICALLY-PRICED FUELS (ie. priced where Big Brothers make 3-4X more per gallon or litre than the large Oil Corps make on the product),...these additional revenues ripped-off by both governments must also be in a staggering amount of BILLION$ every year. Guess that's what some refer to as: "Truly Sweetheart Deals" (for everyone but The Public)?

Regardless, and even though: "The almighty-buck" explains much about France and Germany, I'll never understand why so many Americans act so similarly anti-American, and promote and elevate everything foreign (even foreign enemiies whom would destroy us) as more trustworthy, superior, and even believable.

Is political oneupsmanship all that important to some Americans in authority, in Hollywood, and even The Press/Media, in that "They" would put all Americans at risk, merely to attain political control of a CBR-devastated wasteland?

Though, and in fairness to our homegrown EVERYTHING anti-American Lovers, maybe there too lies a: "The Franc & DM Connection". After all, recently learning learning that The French own Universal Studios, does explain much to me. Knock America and The Prez,...and thusly make some good brownie points with your bosses. Hey,...maybe even better roles?

For The Germans I really can't make an American Connection. But, and in fairness to me, how could I? After all, whom better that The Germans can keep foul and dirty secrets for a long time? It was only after the end of WWII that The World discovered how deceptive and cruel Germans could actually be against fellow human beings.

Still, and while on this fairness-kick, in fairness to The Germans some say that The Japs of WWII were even worse. I heard the number of 30 or 40 MILLION Jap-slaughtered defenseless civilians kicked-around, even though guaranteed never to read such in a Japanese History Book about such cowardly Jap Butchers.

Neil

[Staff_HQ]

I really hope that this forum and this site don?t go anti European as the forum on military.com has. I been active in the Norwegian Army for over 8 years, and some of the best and greatest soldiers I got to know was US troops.

And reconeil, don?t forget the US support to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war. When it comes to oil, the US is one of the biggest consumer?s world wide, so my guess will be that the puppy government that comes to power after Saddam will be werry US friendly. So after the war your need for oil and a strategic base will be secured in the Middle East.

When this is said, I support an action against Saddam, but I hoped that this would be a UN supported action. The French way, well they are wrong. And don?t blame the Germans; they have a history of war so there is understandable that they don?t want to go to war. Don?t forget that the Germans have NBC troops in Kuwait to support the coalition?s forces there.

Regards
Staff_HQ

[Seascamp]

Welcome comments Staff and much appreciated. No doubt the relationships the US has with Europe will need some sorting out and this will take some time but we'll get to a new understanding soon enough. From this end of things, most of us see Scandinavia as part of NATO and the EU but not necessarily European by definition. And I know Norway is very much their own country and proudly so. Thanks for your friendship through thick and thin. That is not unrecognized and not unappreciated. Best regards to all and Salute.

Scamp

[Arrow]

Economics 101:

We are the big dog on the porch. Others are not even running a close second. As is with all big dogs they can't stay on the porch without a challenge. And that's what we have here ladies and gentleman. Opposition to this war is more about running us off the porch than it is about caring for the people of Iraq.

Arrow>>>>>>>

[Boats]

Hello Norway,

I don't like being compared to military.com I too have had my problems on that site so I've not been there in some time.

I won't presume to know all the facts but the media has been beating this issue to death for the last two weeks. Of course we are disappointed in the French decision and the Germans well all I know is that when I was there they have great beer and are friendly - but the issues at hand are polictical and old Europe has been more or less making a living off the middle east by selling hardware and other types of materials. So basically its in their best interest to keep the money coming in not so much in the moral issues of what they are doing with it. My feelings on the subject.

As Scamp said above and our good friend Neil remarked we are just a bit tough skinned since the issues at hand are so devastating that we can understand why there wasn't more support for the US after all we've been there for so many of them in the past (and will continue to be there) that they just wouldn't step forward and be counted.

I know many say one thing on TV but in the back rooms they are waiting for us to rid the middle east of this person. Let's hope that once this issue is taken care of we call all concentrate on the NK issue and the remaining terrorist. Someone has to do this its seems we are the only ones who will sacrafice our people to safeguard the rest of the free society.

This web site is old vets - recent vets - and active duty personal all of us are brother's and sister's to a common cause. We stick together even though we don't always agree on all issues. The bottom line is that we communicate and open ourselves so that whether we are wrong or right the subject is out in the open not being spoken behind closed doors.

Our Men and Women are the finest in the world they are aggressive and have a good outlook on life. They are not reckless or do they appreciate being away from their loved ones but they will be dam'ed if someone takes a position of relieving us of our freedoms or threaten their country.

It would be nice to be neutral and sit on the fence an watch others take the bull by the horns for once but there is no one willing to make that sacrafice - so as usual the American's sacrafice their young to safeguards those who can't fight back.

Bitter - yes just a little. We care so we do something about it - I guess that's what makes us different than others. My best regards to Norway and its people.

[Arrow]

Staff_HQ,

I for one had not a grain of anti European sentiment/ Aussie/ or Canadian for that matter until an act of war was committed against us on 9/11/01 and to my dismay we were seen by many around the worldand on both sides of our borders as getting our just desserts.

I know who we are. The good and the bad of us. As well as anyone. The books that I read and that are on my self tell me both sides of the story. I can still put my head up and say that there is no way we deserved what we got on that September morning. For all ofour faults we are a good, compassionate and freedom loving people. And we certainly have put our money whereour mouth is. ie witness the tax dollars that flood out of this country in assistance and aid.

I don't want to offend any one from another country that comes to us in peace. But I hope it will be taken into consideration thatsome of usare a tad bit irritable as we are a country at war.Although the media chooses not to run the disturbing scenes of 09/11/01 they are etched into our brains forever.

Arrow>>>>>>>

[9th Inf. Doc.]

Greetings Norway!

My wife's father was born and raised in Norway and she was born there during one of his return visits.A little town near Oslo.

Welcome to the site.

[reeb]

Sounds as if the Television industry is going to make BooKoo bucks on this war, starting with the old and ever famous Dallas but this one will be Crawford, United State of Texas.

enough...........( except god speed and bring them home safe and sound)

[Staff_HQ]

Greetings US.

Thx for the nice feedback.

After 9/11/01 and the start of operation enduring freedom Im proud to say that we "Norway", contributed with many types of support.

This is what I remember:
1. We manned a lot of Awac planes for the defence over the US skies, so the US crew could do their job over Afghanistan.

2. Our Special Forces had more days in the field, except from the US Special Forces, than any of the other countries on this field.

3. For the first time after WW2 Norwegian pilots on F-16 used LGB to support US troops in need on the ground.
(And note, we have few, and I mean few fighters)

3. We have, and maybe are one of the key supporters in logistic support by manning the HQ for this, also the MOVECON if I don?t remember wrong.

4. We use our C-130 to support forces inside Afghanistan.
(And again, we have few C-130 planes too)

Nice to hear from you with or without Norwegian ancestors.
I?m proud to say that I have family in the US.

The Norwegian armed forces are based on conscription. That?s why we have few, but good forces to support in various operations, since we can?t send regular troops. It started with MASH units in Korea. But Norway was one of the first countries to respond to the Turkey request of defensive aid.

But we are in the progress to build a Norwegian reaction force of volunteers that sign up for many years. They will be combat ready in July 03. This will be an armoured battalion and a support battalion.

Good luck in the coming action in the Gulf..

Staff_HQ

[Arrow]

Thank you sir,

And thank you to all in your country that came to our aid and are standing with us now. I can't tell you how much you post encouraged me thisday.

Arrow>>>>>>