Hey Europeans!

[Accountable]

The public was angered by the mistake but was even more disturbed to hear that German troops sometimes call upon American troops for help. That implies that Germany is part of a coalition that is actually fighting a war -- a fact that few German politicians have ever had the nerve to convey to voters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...06/07/AR2010060703531.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions

Is this accurate? Is it true that the German gov't is sending troops to Afghanistan to fight, but not telling their constituents??

 

[Azazel]

​

 

[skyblue]

no idea.....if you're not german its just like me asking you the same question about china

 

[Peter Parka]

no idea.....if you're not german its just like me asking you the same question about china

:homo:


It amazes me the trouble that Americans seem to have comprehending that Europe is just a continent made up of loads of vastly different countries. As a Brit, my country has closer political ties to the USA than it has to Germany.

 

[edgray]

it seems that yes, it's true. The German public believe their troops are on peace-keeping missions, not active combat duty.

I think this kind of thing happens all the time. In Britain, our armed forces are on peace-keeping missions around the globe constantly, and you never know when these missions are actually for active combat. A good example was Sierra Leone, where back in 2000 our troops were sent in to help evacuate british expats. Without any mention to the country, they realised the rebels crumbled when faced with a bit of tough opposition, so they got involved and stopped the terror by force. We didn't find out til long after the event.

 

[porterjack]

:homo:


It amazes me the trouble that Americans seem to have comprehending that Europe is just a continent made up of loads of vastly different countries. As a Brit, my country has closer political ties to the USA than it has to Germany.

still in denial over the EU I see

 

[Accountable]

no idea.....if you're not german its just like me asking you the same question about china

:homo:


It amazes me the trouble that Americans seem to have comprehending that Europe is just a continent made up of loads of vastly different countries. As a Brit, my country has closer political ties to the USA than it has to Germany.

:shrug: You're closer. I would expect Mexico & Canada would be in our news more than yours. I would expect Germany would be in your news more than ours. "Europeans" encompasses more than only Britains, so as much as it may surprise you, I wasn't asking only you.

I've never known anyone to be so proud of their ignorance that they would look down their noses at anyone that would assume they might know something.

 

[Accountable]

it seems that yes, it's true. The German public believe their troops are on peace-keeping missions, not active combat duty.

I think this kind of thing happens all the time. In Britain, our armed forces are on peace-keeping missions around the globe constantly, and you never know when these missions are actually for active combat. A good example was Sierra Leone, where back in 2000 our troops were sent in to help evacuate british expats. Without any mention to the country, they realised the rebels crumbled when faced with a bit of tough opposition, so they got involved and stopped the terror by force. We didn't find out til long after the event.

mad Another example of the gov't knowing what's better than the people?? It's one thing to find yourself in a different situation than expected. It's completely different to tell constituents one thing and plan from the beginning to do exactly what they would be against. If the German people want to be a pacifist nation, who the fuck are their gov't to go a different direction?

 

[edgray]

mad Another example of the gov't knowing what's better than the people?? It's one thing to find yourself in a different situation than expected. It's completely different to tell constituents one thing and plan from the beginning to do exactly what they would be against. If the German people want to be a pacifist nation, who the fuck are their gov't to go a different direction?

well this is a problem all over Europe, apart from France. 75% of the UK weren't in favour of the Iraq conflict and Tony Blair basically, and quite condescendingly acted as if only HE knew what was best. It happened in Spain too until the Madrid bombing which caused such a problem in the electorate the govt had to pull out. The govts here only respond to protest, and in Britain they haven't responded to that since the 80s. If they think they can do it quietly enough, they will.

 

[Accountable]

At least the guy had the balls to step down. Most of the people we vote into office would leave fingernail marks in the doorway as security escorts them out.

 

[skyblue]

well this is a problem all over Europe, apart from France. 75% of the UK weren't in favour of the Iraq conflict and Tony Blair basically, and quite condescendingly acted as if only HE knew what was best. It happened in Spain too until the Madrid bombing which caused such a problem in the electorate the govt had to pull out. The govts here only respond to protest, and in Britain they haven't responded to that since the 80s. If they think they can do it quietly enough, they will.

an estimated 100'000 went on a long walk with banners:24:

 

[edgray]

an estimated 100'000 went on a long walk with banners:24:

I thought the figure was more like over 1,000,000? It was supposed to be one of the largest city marches in History. The govt didn't give a damn.

 

[edgray]

At least the guy had the balls to step down. Most of the people we vote into office would leave fingernail marks in the doorway as security escorts them out.

yeah it took Blair years to do that. he was literally dragged out, kicking and screaming...

 

[skyblue]

1'000'000 still isn't 75%...far from it...whether we agree with it or not we still support our troops though

 

[edgray]

1'000'000 still isn't 75%...far from it...whether we agree with it or not we still support our troops though

no it's not. it's 6.6% or thereabouts. Surely you wouldn't expect 100% of the people against the war to pitch up in London???

The opinions polls showed around 75% against getting involved in the conflict.

Yes Britain always supports our troops, which is why most people want them home safely so they can do their job of defending the country, not oil concerns.

 

[Peter Parka]

still in denial over the EU I see

Get back to me when you actually understand what the EU is.:thumbup

I thought the figure was more like over 1,000,000? It was supposed to be one of the largest city marches in History. The govt didn't give a damn.

Yup, it was, I was there.

1'000'000 still isn't 75%...far from it...whether we agree with it or not we still support our troops though

Surely you dont seriously think that the majority of people who disagreed with the war were going to drag their arse (hundreds of miles in some cases) down to London to take part in a protest. The poll tax was undeniably hugely unpopular but only a small fraction of the people who hated it took part in the riot.

 

[Zorak]

still in denial over the EU I see

Get back to me when you actually understand what the EU is.:thumbup

The UK are in the EU, no matter what way you cut it.

 

[Peter Parka]

The UK are in the EU, no matter what way you cut it.

The EU isn't the United States of Europe like the USA is the United States of America though, something some of our friends on here from the USA seem to have trouble understanding. Can't remember who it is but one guy on here seems to be under the impression that Europe is one big Communist country.:willy_nilly:

 

[porterjack]

The EU isn't the United States of Europe like the USA is the United States of America though, something some of our friends on here from the USA seem to have trouble understanding. Can't remember who it is but one guy on here seems to be under the impression that Europe is one big Communist country.:willy_nilly:

my tongue in cheek comment about denial is nothing more that, a mild shit stir but you must admit that the UK has never fully embraced the European Union theme, when was the EEC establiashed 1971?

you guys still dont see yourself as European in the same way that others on the continent do, France and Germany for example

 

[Peter Parka]

my tongue in cheek comment about denial is nothing more that, a mild shit stir but you must admit that the UK has never fully embraced the European Union theme, when was the EEC establiashed 1971?

you guys still dont see yourself as European in the same way that others on the continent do, France and Germany for example

Some countries are more enthusiastic about the EU because of the benefits to their weaker economies ect so that's probably part of it, Great Britain is one of the strongest European countries. I do think being an Island nation seperated by water from mainland Europe along with the hostilities by some to those "funny, bloody foreigners" might also be something to do with it. Brits on average seem much more agreeable to American culture slipping into our culture than anything from another European country with the noticable exception of Ireland and even then, we dont seem to be as hell bent on proving we're Irish because our great - great granddad was, like the Americans seem to be.