[Mishmash] (no subject)

[David Brown]

Thanks Fred.  I was not meaning to disparage Oz.  I am a bit fond it after
all.  

I was trying to be realistic though.  I came to the off the beaten track
conclusion whilst playing war games with my sons.  When it comes to
conquering the world, no one ever bothers with Australia.  It takes too many
resources and becomes a diversion from the main game.  I think this is true
in reality as well and I am not unhappy :-)  It is nice not to be a
strategic target.

The Australian people on the whole are good honest hard working decent
people.  We are ones for helping the underdog and teasing tall poppies.  We
are however very war like.  If there is a blue anywhere, we are quick to
jump in and help our mates.  This is good but it also has its down side as
we get involved in things that are probably none of our business.  For
instance, why did we get into the Boer War or the First World War? To help
the Poms because they were our mates.  Even the beginning stages of the
Second World War were none of our business but we could not resist.  

Why are we in the Middle East?  To help our mates.  Idealistically this is
goodness but I have my doubts it was a truly logical decision.  I am not
sure the theatre that we are in is really contributing much strategically
beyond moral support.

Don't get me wrong.  I am not advocating a unilateral pull out but I would
like it to be oo be on the table for discussion.

Regards

David

-----Original Message-----
From: mishmash-bounces at mishmash.net [mailto:mishmash-bounces at mishmash.net]
On Behalf Of Fred Atkinson
Sent: Monday, 5 February 2007 11:19 AM
To: Mishmash
Subject: Re: [Mishmash] (no subject)

David,

    It may be that your people have strategized well in this way.  Perhaps
if our people had thought that way, we'd not have put so much of our
financial resources in one basket (in the World Trade Center, I mean) but
rather spread them out accordingly.  Actually, it seems a bit smart if you
ask me.

    But I don't consider the Australian people 'off the beaten track'.  Your
nation is one of greatness and freedom.  Your countrymen (and remember, I
visited your country and met a lot of your countrymen) are good people.  For
myself, I'd be very proud to stand with them any time.

    Here's those who are amoung our greatest friends and allies, the people
of Australia.  God Bless all of you.

    Regards,




Fred

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Brown" <djbrown at tpg.com.au>
To: "'Mishmash'" <mishmash at mishmash.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 6:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Mishmash] (no subject)


> We are told lots of things.  I take most of them a large grain of salt.
> Australia is a soft target but who cares?  It would take an enormous bomb
to
> blow up the Harbour Bridge or the Opera House but if they blew up anything
> else up who would notice, or care?  I am serious.  It would just take too
> much effort for too little gain.  Australia is so far off the beaten track
> and too insignificant in the big picture.  The terrorist cost benefit is
far
> greater to do something in the USA or Europe.
>
> I really think that the threats announced by the Australian Government are
> simply to keep people scared and to believe that our Government is going
to
> protect us.  It would therefore be too risky to change Government at an
> election.
>
> Regards
>
> David
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fred Atkinson
>
> David,
>
>     I remember reading that one on one of the news sites a couple of years
> ago.
>
>     They told Bin Laden that since he had threatened Australia that he had
> threatened them and therefore there was no way they were coming to his
aid.
>
>     Regards,
>
>
>                                                                     Fred
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mishmash mailing list
> Mishmash at mishmash.net
> http://mishmash.net/mailman/listinfo/mishmash_mishmash.net
>


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