[Mishmash] (no subject)

[Fred Atkinson]

David,

    The actions of your countrymen speak well for all of you.  Yes, you do
stand by your mates.  And we will be proud to stand by you.

    Regards,



                                                                        Fred
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Brown" <djbrown at tpg.com.au>
To: "'Mishmash'" <mishmash at mishmash.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Mishmash] (no subject)


> 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
> >
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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