MilitaryForums.co.uk

Oui, mon ami, jai le cafard. Je suis tres malade(fugg the spelling ) malad de travail
Having the painters in is an English expression which refers to the menstrual cycle. As per "what are all these red rags doing about the place my dear? Have you got the painters in?"
Hence Jules` tetchy response.
Hope you and Mrs Frank enjoy your Easter Monday mate, I just slipped into Tuesday Bonne Soiree mon amis A bientot

Naw Harry, no painters. It wouldn't matter anyhow as it doesn't tend to change my mood.

This morning I woke up cold and wanting more sleep. I've had my coffee and now I'm working on my tea. My "crankiness" has dissipated.

Besides, we have sunshine for the first time in ages, that helps. I was getting pretty tired of the constant rain.

Julie

harry hackedoff wrote:Will Colon Powell feature in the next Presidential campaign?

I'm sure the choices will be paper or plastic.

[off-topic]

harry hackedoff wrote:....what`s French for "have you got the painters in?"

Vous sur? [on-topic]

More like: "z'avez les ours?".

Ok, now I have time to give my opinion about WHY Rummy is inept.

On January 20, 2003 President Bush signed the National Security Presidential Directive #24 (NSPD 24). This put the DOD in charge of postwar policy. Prior to that, postwar policy was dictated by the State Dept. This makes more sense as DOD is in charge of military and the State Dept has all the lovely people who are trained in foreign relations and diplomacy.

While I realize that the military is needed for the postwar, there is also a HUGE amount of diplomacy needed. It wasn't there. As far as I can see, Rummy and friends didn't understand the culture anywhere near well enough. Of course it was complicated by the fact that they needed a lot more translators than they had. Yes, I realize that the UN sent an Ambassador. It was too late to get a good start by that point.

Aside from the diplomacy end, there was also the mistakes made with our military. To send our troops off without sufficient body armor or armor for vehicles is inept at the least and criminal at the worst. I won't comment on tactics as I'm no expert.

While I'm sure I could find another multitude of things to complain about, I'll stop here for now. I know that blame for all the failures can be spread around, but Rummy runs the DOD. The DOD runs the postwar. Bremer, when he was there, answered to Rummy. That means the buck stops with Rummy.

He needs to suck it up and step down.

Just so that everyone understands, this is my opinion.

Yes well, I disagree. I think he's peachy.
We need his expertise for the next war.... He's a mental ninja, he is.
There.

On the other hand, has he even heard of Sir Harold Briggs and Malaya?
Doubt it I do...
Why even Abizaid contradicted him in '03 when he said Iraq was in 'insurgency' mode, two weeks after Rheumy said there was NO insurgency...

And now look.

Let's keep him.

He is a star, though, isn`t he

It`s that nice lad from the valleys I feel sorry for
No silly, not Doc ffs
Colin Powell


Wodyamean he`s not Welsh With a name like Colin Powell
Nice ref to Malayan Insurgency there mon ami

Frank S. wrote: As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;

Was it Mr. Kipling's Exceedingly Good Cakes?

Kipling, yes. "The gods of the copybook headings".

You get a cookie.
On your computer, that is...

Frank, what`s the fourth thing, ffs
I`m good with Bro Kipling.
But not that good

Here's the rest:

And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will bum,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return.

Yerrrrrs

What the farq is Dubya on
Did you see him dragging the chinky bloke by the sleeve
Larf.
Daft twat`s gonna regret that one, oi finks

That was bad Harry, but I'm not sure if the worst indignity wasn't having the announcer state that the band was going to play the National Anthem of the Republic of China (aka Taiwan).