Swiss Guards Get A Rest

Philly.com ^

[Perdogg]

The pope's retirement means his famous Swiss Guards get a few days off before they have to protect the new guy.

Stern-face and standing as erect as the halberds they grasp, Swiss Guards rarely betray emotion on duty. Â But their storied history has its early roots in a bloody drama.

[tanknetter]

Sort of like the 300 Spartans, right?

[oh8eleven]

Sometimes the sign of being a highly skilled force is never having to fight.
Like plumbers and electricians?
One does not get a reputation in the military just by being highly skilled.
Battle worthiness is earned - the hard way.

[1rudeboy]

It’s tough to imagine great military victories won by countries that are historically neutral. /s

[oh8eleven]

That’s essentially my point.

[oh8eleven]

Sort of like the 300 Spartans, right?
Spartan military reputation was forged long before Thermopylae.
Even the Marines "attacked in a different direction" at the Chosin Reservoir.

[1rudeboy]

No, not essentially . . . your point is that they are not effective as guards because they have no noted military vicotries. In other words, your assertion has no relevant basis.

[VR-21]

"Ah, that would be considered a loss, hence, not in the book of great victories."

You could certainly say that it was a loss, the same way you could say Bataan, Corregidor and the Alamo were...but there's a little more to all those stories, wouldn't you agree.

[discostu]

But then once they have fought the reputation is there. And really in the modern world of information you can get a lot of military reputation without fighting, what do you think bomb tests are for. And as others have pointed out, periodically the Vatican Guard does show some of their training to various TV crews for various reasons. There are many ways to show force, and if the force shown is sufficient potential enemies come up with other plans.

[oh8eleven]

In other words, your assertion has no relevant basis.
No, it's their reputation that has no relevant basis.

[1rudeboy]

You are doing the equivalent of asserting that a baseball player is poor defensively because he has a poor batting average (or can’t hit homeruns).

[Excellence]

It is 8 p.m. in Rome.

[DoodleDawg]

In May 1527 about 150 out of 190 Swiss Guards gave their lives fighting the troops of Charles V and allowing Pope Clement VII to escape capture. Anyone who thinks the current Swiss Guard wouldn’t do the same to protect the current Pope is kidding themselves.

[Romulus]

Wow, you must be pretty tough. Why don’t you pick a fight with one and see what happens?

[Romulus]

No, it's their reputation that has no relevant basis.

Not even Hitler invaded Switzerland. You think he didn't like chocolate?

[Perdogg]

Yep, Rome is Popeless

[Revolting cat!]

Pooped Pope popped out!

[Revolting cat!]

Not even Hitler invaded Switzerland.

As a matter of fact, during one of his press conferences, Adolf was asked why he hadn't invaded Switzerland. He answered: "Because that's where the money is!"

[oh8eleven]

Wow, you must be pretty tough.
Me - a keyboard commando? Do your homework before throwing out ignorant insults.

[Romulus]

You are the one who needs to be doing some homework.