When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Ir aq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
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Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?"
Once again, dead silence.
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A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he fo und himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you w ouldn't have to speak German.
You could have heard a pin drop .
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
OUTSTANDING!
I don't know if that actually took place, but it sure is the TRUTH!!!!
No one is disputing our place in the world, and our importance to the way the world is right now, good and bad. I love this country and all we have done to make the world a better place for everyone on it.
However, we must be careful. In our position we can can choose to either be the class leader who insprires and assists through action, innovation, and the promise of potential, or we can be the big bully on the playground, leading by intimidation, the collection of favors, and the fear of retribution.
It is a thin, line. Sometimes, I can not tell what side of it we are on.
Dan,
You forgot one. We sometimes MUST be the kind of nation that stands up to any other nation and says....We don't trust you. We don't believe that your intentions are good. We will not permit you to put yourselves in a position to harm us regardless of what any other nation thinks. We will draw a line that we believe you must not cross in order for us to remain safe as a nation. If you do, we will take the necessary steps to neutralize any threat we perceive you to be. The loss of life to your civilians will be part of the price you pay.
We cannot let the opinions of other nations change the way we protect out nation and it's interests.
Dan,
You forgot one. We sometimes MUST be the kind of nation that stands up to any other nation and says....We don't trust you. We don't believe that your intentions are good. We will not permit you to put yourselves in a position to harm us regardless of what any other nation thinks. We will draw a line that we believe you must not cross in order for us to remain safe as a nation. If you do, we will take the necessary steps to neutralize any threat we perceive you to be. The loss of life to your civilians will be part of the price you pay.
We cannot let the opinions of other nations change the way we protect out nation and it's interests.
Whoa ......how'd that happen?
granddad,
I do not disagree with you, and I do believe that the country must defend itself when necessary. I wold just like to see some consistency.
We invaded Iraq (or so went reason number three) to liberate the citizens of the country who had apparently been crying out for freedom and democracy. However, twenty years ago in China, thousands of ordinary citizens and students actually did rise up and demand freedom and democracy. As a result, they were shot and killed by their Communist government.
Our response, silence from the administration of the first President Bush, and a reward to China of Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Coca-Cola and the Olympics. An Olympics that will feature Opening Cermonies over the same place where champions for democracy and freedom were silenced.
If the reason we did not do anything was because China does not have oil, just say so out loud and be honest with us. If we are fighting for freedom, shouldn't we be doing that everywhere?
Or are we fighting for our economic best interest?
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