Our dear friend Ahmad Jad can't help cracking jokes. He says that the current leak of classified US documents to Wkileaks is "American psychological warfare" ( he must get a new gag writer, but he ignores my advice).
He's joking , of course. These leaks are a huge embarrasment to the US government and its allies. The US Government will have to make huge efforts to limit the damage. There is much to concern us, such as the indication that the Saudi rulers wanted the USA to attack Iran. There will be cause for amusement, such as Prince Andrew's reported gaffes.
For me though, I'm very interested in the criticism of our armed forces in Afghanistan. As the BBC put it, there was:
"Criticism of UK operations in Afghanistan by US commanders, Afghan president Hamid Karzai and officials in Helmand, particularly around the failure to impose security around Sangin".
It should be remembered here that US commentators, military and civil, were equally critical of UK forces in Iraq and their handling of the situation in Basra.
So, hundreds of UK service personnel have died, several thousand wounded and many more will carry battle trauma ("wounds inside the head") for years to come. All for a disparaging verdict on their efforts by our principal ally. Am I alone in wondering - why did we bother?
This is not to imply any criticism of the American people, who are as sick of this useless war as we are.
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I'm not sure your absolution of the American people is entirely justified. I remember after the 11 September bombings seeing a lorry driving down an American street with "REVENGE" in massive letters across the front. Bush's invasion of Iraq was incredibly popular, and it's not the futility or immorality of the war, but simply the increasing parade of body bags, that has changed American public opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe USA was attacked by terrorists, most of whom came from Saudi Arabia and none from Iraq, which simply didn't matter to the American public. Revenge was all they wanted, even though Iraq was the wrong target. Once their loved ones started dying with no real victory in sight, it became a different story. It wasn't quite the easy, high tech romp in the park they assumed it would be.
Hearing on the news today about a British soldier killed by 'friendly fire' (weasel words), I am reminded about what a British soldier who had fought in North Africa said:
ReplyDelete"When our planes went over, the Jerries cover. When the Jerries came over, we took cover. When the Americans went over, everyone took cover."
Another example of black humour: "What's worse? Being kidnapped by the Taliban or rescued by the Americans?"
Many a true word said in jest, they say.
You have a point, Nev, but we must remember that British servicemen and GIs loathed each other during the war. The well-known British jibe about the GIs was that they were "overpaid, oversexed and over here". The Gi response was to say the the British were "underpaid, undersexed and under Eisenhower". Allies, as is often noted, always dislike each other.
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