617Dambusters

Cheers Duke and Cono. Without trying to bignote Australia (we're just another pissant little country of no importance, just doing what we do), I just wanted to illustrate that the days where one country is all alone against the world, without any help, are over. The US isn't alone in Iraq/Afghanistan. It might seem that way sometimes, but it aint.
In fact, the only country I can think of that is pretty much all alone in the world (despite any alliances), is Israel, but in many ways that is their own choice.

BTW the reason the Aussie army hat has that folded up look, is so that when a soldier is marching with shouldered arms, the barrel of the rifle isn't continually banging into his hat. I think it was a British thing, we picked it up off them around the turn of the century.

Good story Cono, I guess that hat badge would be a half sun, with a crown in it, and "AIF" written on it? That's a huge honour, the guy must have really respected your dad to have sent that badge.
Yeah Peter Cosgrove is a bit of a legend. One of those rare breed who are really good at their job, and are also good at taking the limelight without making themselves into a celebrity.

Anyway, back on topic, I disagree with the way Israel has handled this, but I'd prefer not to see them swept into the sea by a bunch of rabid Jihadis. But sometimes they make it difficult to sympathise with them.

Main4ce wrote:On a lighter note;

After numerous rounds of "We don't even know if Osama is still alive," Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.

Bush opened the letter and it appeared to contain a single line of Coded
message: 370H-SSV-0773H

Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice.
Condi and her aides had not a clue either, so they sent it to the FBI.

No one could solve it at the FBI so it went to the CIA, then to NASA.
Eventually they asked Britain's MI-6 for help.
Within a minute MI-6 cabled the White House with this reply: "Tell the
President he's holding the message upside down."

FuelPump wrote:Cheers Duke and Cono. Without trying to bignote Australia (we're just another pissant little country of no importance, just doing what we do), I just wanted to illustrate that the days where one country is all alone against the world, without any help, are over. The US isn't alone in Iraq/Afghanistan. It might seem that way sometimes, but it aint.
In fact, the only country I can think of that is pretty much all alone in the world (despite any alliances), is Israel, but in many ways that is their own choice.

BTW the reason the Aussie army hat has that folded up look, is so that when a soldier is marching with shouldered arms, the barrel of the rifle isn't continually banging into his hat. I think it was a British thing, we picked it up off them around the turn of the century.

Good story Cono, I guess that hat badge would be a half sun, with a crown in it, and "AIF" written on it? That's a huge honour, the guy must have really respected your dad to have sent that badge.
Yeah Peter Cosgrove is a bit of a legend. One of those rare breed who are really good at their job, and are also good at taking the limelight without making themselves into a celebrity.

Anyway, back on topic, I disagree with the way Israel has handled this, but I'd prefer not to see them swept into the sea by a bunch of rabid Jihadis. But sometimes they make it difficult to sympathise with them.

I can understand Israel's position. I believe, after WWII and the Holocaust, Israel doesn't ever want to have to rely on anyone again. The downside to that is that it tends to isolate them.

Having said that, having lived, traveled and worked in that part of the world for 1/4 of my life and having both Jewish and Muslim friends, I can't side with the Muslims in this affair. It has been the stated goal of the Muslims to drive the Jews into the sea and kill them all and I believe, given the opportunity, they would attempt to do it and have. Everyone has heard this at the political levels. I have heard this at the individual level, and not from just one person from just one segment of the Muslim world. On the other hand, the Jews have never wanted to do the same to the Muslims. Also, the Muslims deliberately target cilivians while the Jews make efforts to avoid civilian casualties, although not always successful. That, to me, is the ultimate indicator of which side to stand with. Of course, recognizing Israel as a country certainly hasn't helped the situation nor has the British and French partitioning of the region nor the Crusades nor the Muslim invasion nor the USA or any other country meddling in their affairs. It is definitely a messed up area of the world and I believe ultimately the scene of a huge conflagration (and I'm not a particularly religious person, i.e. armegeddon).


By the way, that badge I received is a subdued badge as you described except it has the written words "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces". I know that respect is mutual. My dad put him in for a decoration back during the Vietnam War, either a bronze star or silver star, but he never received it. Apparently, the paperwork was lost. SNAFU. They are in the process of sorting that out right now.

I'm hoping to travel to Australia sometimes in the next few years, maybe 2008, and meet him. If I'm real lucky, maybe meet Cosgrove, but I doubt it. Cosgrove is probably much too busy to meet a nobody like me.

cono are u stoned?

starting to sound kinda philosphical and shit

Leave him alone Chas. I enjoy hearing his travels. Think a lot of what you know comes from your Military Dad, or being subjected to the different Regions you were in. I feel you are Tops on the Ground in WWII Online.

Charlie3 wrote:cono are u stoned?

starting to sound kinda philosphical and shit

Yup, this is what happens when I start using my brain and not playing the game and shooting grey Axis asshats. I need to get back to being mindless, emotionless Conobot.

As far as being stoned is concerned, I'll leave that to Ithica.

Fuck you all I quit lol.

Ithica wrote:Fuck you all I quit lol.

A stoner never quits, he just takes a break.

haha gotta love mindless fun

my addiction to gaming is alot like my former addiction to drugs

all your problems get put on a back burner for awhile

i was just messin w ya anyway cono.. you go on and get as philosphical as you want

we are all friends here

BigMex73 wrote:

Ithica wrote:Fuck you all I quit lol.

A stoner never quits, he just takes a break.

Amen brother.

Maybe if we pass a few around through the Middle East, they'll all be so mellow............

Kizmet wrote:

BigMex73 wrote:

Ithica wrote:Fuck you all I quit lol.

A stoner never quits, he just takes a break.

Amen brother.

Maybe if we pass a few around through the Middle East, they'll all be so mellow............

lol you're talking about the part of the world that invented the hookah! That hasn't calmed them down much at all...

Yeah I got the hat badge wrong. AIF was the first world war...

Cono I'm sure Cosgrove would be honoured to meet you, he seems to be a pretty down to earth guy, for a brass knob. Hell, if he knew how sneaky you were in-game, and what you get up to, he'd probably want your autograph!
When you come over, make sure you head over to the west. I'll take you out to the Swanbourne SAS barracks (right next to a nudist beach - SAS sneaky? Never....). Might have to ask Cosgrove to get us a pass to get in though... I dunno if I'd feel too good about an extra hole in my face, between the eyes.

World War Three?!

No freakin' way, not even close.
There may be some conflict going on but this is not like the bad old days where WWIII was gonna last an hour and the survivors would glow in the dark.

This time around all the big guys are pretty much on the same side, or at least as much as we've ever been. (China is still a bit strange to the rest of the world I think)

We may see fighting in several different parts of the world but nothing like a total global conflict.

Even if you consider it as Muslim Vs.. well.. Everybody else, it will never amount to anything that could be considered a World War.

Like the Hitch Hikers Guide says; "Don't Panic."

The basic underlying problem I see in the Middle East is that three major world religions, all of whom stem from the same roots, call this the 'Holy Land'. Their differences (to an outsider) seem far smaller than their similiarities, but still they all seem to be perfectly willing to kill each other over these trivial differences.
The worst part is that all of these religions profess that their ultimate goal is brotherhood where everyone loves everyone else......

People can be so incredibly noble and ingenious and open handed, and then they become greedy and stupid and violent.
What the fuck is wrong with us as a species?

You know, selective breeding works with animals......

( Selective Breeding ) He He TZ. ( Meaby so )

FuelPump wrote:Cono I'm sure Cosgrove would be honoured to meet you, he seems to be a pretty down to earth guy, for a brass knob. Hell, if he knew how sneaky you were in-game, and what you get up to, he'd probably want your autograph!
When you come over, make sure you head over to the west. I'll take you out to the Swanbourne SAS barracks (right next to a nudist beach - SAS sneaky? Never....). Might have to ask Cosgrove to get us a pass to get in though... I dunno if I'd feel too good about an extra hole in my face, between the eyes.

hehehe, Cosgrove would probably laugh and just say..........


N00B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


He does seem to be the salt of the earth from what I've read and heard. Wasn't he rumoured to be in the running for the Presidency should you guys have changed your form of government and had a President? I seem to recall that possibility coming about.

Right now, we are just in considering going to Australia in 2008. I do know that we will be going to Ayers Rock and to that place where the people live underground (forgot the name of it). We haven't considered anything further west than that so far but it's early. It would be neat to visit the SAS there, not to mention that nudist beach.

Cono wrote:hehehe, Cosgrove would probably laugh and just say..........


N00B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just show him your sig Cono, he'd be all over it... Tell him you've got her phone number, and you'll give it to him once he lets us into the SAS barracks...

That underground place, would that be Coober Pedy, or maybe Lightning Ridge? Lots of old Opal Mines that people decide to live in (nice and cool underground).

Well if you don't come west, I may just fly out to Ayers Rock (I've never actually been there myself).