From a Marine in Kosovo

[gmattson]

Ernie Says: Note the signature, but read it last...

A funny thing happened to me yesterday at Camp Bondsteel (Bosnia): A French army officer walked up to me in the PX, and told me he thought we (Americans) were a bunch of cowboys and were going to provoke a war. He said if such a thing happens, we wouldn't be able to count on the support of France. I told him that it didn't surprise me. Since we had come to France's rescue in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the Cold War, their ingratitude and jealousy was due to surface at some point in the near future anyway. That is why France is a third-rate military power with a socialist economy and a bunch of faggots for soldiers. I additionally told him that America, being a nation of deeds and action, not words, would do whatever it had to do, and France's support was only for show anyway. Just like in ALL NATO exercises, the US would shoulder 85% of the burden, as evidenced by the fact that the French officer was shopping in the American PX, and not the other way around. He began to get belligerent at that point, and I told him if he would like to, I would meet him outside in front of the Burger King and beat his ass in front of the entire Multi-National Brigade East, thus demonstrating that even the smallest American had more fight in him than the average Frenchman. He called me a barbarian cowboy and walked away in a huff. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Mary Beth Jxxxxxx LtCol, USMC


Dec 4, 2002

[Akil Todd Harvey]

Sensei,

I am torn between a very PC response that is more accepting of alternative lifestyles and wanting to bust out laughing at her response.

While I am not always entirely supportive of our governments policies, especially ones that ignore international consensus or treaties to which the US is a signatory, it does seem more than a little unfair to expect any individual citizen, especially an armed forces officer to be asked to answer for the policies of their govt.

Dont officers in the armed forces have fewer free speech rights when it comes to ciritcizing the policies of the commander-in-chief? An old JAG (the TV show) episode plot line brought up the issue of free speech for military officers.

Diplomacy, it seems, is best left to the diplomats.

Peace, ATH

[gmattson]

Bill Bauknecht sent the letter to me. He gets lots of funny posts from his friends and sends the best to me.

Unfortunately, many are untrue. I think many people who have an "agenda", make up letters or stories that and because of the humor involved, get widely distributed by people like Bill and me.

hmmmmm

[Gene DeMambro]

Back when Slick Willie was being tried for not having sexual relations with Monica, the US military alerted all US soldiers, worldwide, that they were not to insult the President. To do so would result in an express ticket to a Court Martial. The charge: insubordination, as the President is the Commander-In-Chief.

Gene