Two new books by British soldiers – one a sniper in Iraq, the other an Apache driver in the Af – are reviewed by the Weekly Standard’s Stuart Koehl.
He has kind words for the men and women in the front line club. Less for those who sent them. Less still for those who “welcomed” them home.
Today, the British military is being subjected to draconian budget cuts, which will undoubtedly undermine its ability to execute the missions to which its government commits it. But the men and the tradition do not change, and the enemies of Britain are certain to agree with Napoleon, who once said, “The British infantry is the best in Europe. It is good there is so little of it.”
When one looks at how the United Kingdom intends to pay for its fiscal mismanagement on the backs of the military, when one reads of fat, slovenly, self-satisfied British burgers and housewives complaining about the presence of injured British soldiers at public swimming pools, when you see wastral British youths denigrating returning veterans, one realizes that Britain is not worthy of the men she sends into battle.
I was quite proud of United Airlines the last time I flew my daughter to visit my parents. United upgraded the 2 of us to first class and everyone else in the first class cabin from Dallas Fort Worth who was upgraded were very very young soldiers in Air Force uniforms with but one exception who paid for the privilege. He was the guy that let them know that “hey, it’s all free in first class! Choose the food you want!” As an aside, these young men and women were obviously fresh out of basic schools in Texas and manifestly too young to learn that the booze is free too so he didn’t mention that aspect. I enjoyed the flight listening to the conversations around me. The youngsters around us were also very nice about returning my daughters flying sheep to us after each of its flights around the cabin.
I’ve been honored to watch how Americans have treated our servicemen and women. There are the kooks and nutters but they are so manifestly kooks and nutters that we don’t pay much attention to them.
The majority of the population does appreciate our heroes, but the administration is now in the hands of those who do not. What is happening to the English military is prescient of what is going to occur for the US military. It has been “hollowed-out” before and these folk will do it again.
I had spent the better part of my 30-day leave between DaNang and my assignment in the UK partying with friends in New Orleans and Baton Rouge before jumping on a plane to fly home to spend a few days with my parents in Illinois before leaving for England. It was a dissolute, liquified, hedonistic march through “The City That Care Forgot” that ended with me stumbling onto an early morning Delta flt (coach, I was flying stand-by) in my sun-tans (1505s) and collapsing in my seat in a near comatose state. An absolute Angel of a Delta stew, unbidden, brought me a Bloody Mary, saying: “You look like you need this, it’s on the house.” LOL! And she brought a refill! At that point, after finishing the second, my body said “no mas” and I blissfully drifted off for the duration of the flight.
Although it was Nov of the year 1968, and anti-war sentiments were at their peak, at least the airlines treated us like royalty even then–If I could ever find out the name of that stew, I’d put her in my will…
Heh. They’re called flight attendants now, Virgil.
Oh my, what a cow they’d have to hear the word stewardess.
I have had the privilege of working with and getting to know some of the brits who are in iraq. They make for great fun in the office and I fully intend to come and visit them at home.
I flew Continental up to DC for Memorial Day weekend. They asked people to stay seated and allow the troops first disembarkation, called them out and asked all to recognize their service.
Apache by Ed Macy is a fantastic read, made me want to fly attack choppers. I am surprised those guys can walk properly with Balls that big.