"Unlike the American troops, we look the Iraqis in the eye"

The Daily Telegraph U.K. ^ | 4-05-03 | Not attributed

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You know, the danger in responding to any and all criticism with hatred and bile is that one never improves.

And you know, there is a time for criticism, and a time to keep your mouth shut.

This article is a fine demonstration of a breathtaking lack of class, in my opinion.

[stinkypew]

Look, all I'm saying is that it wasn't some kind of glorious victory against long odds.

And this may really make people mad, but the French, historically speaking, aren't the surrender monkeys of the popular image. Verdun was probably the longest, bloodiest battle in history, including Stalingrad. Aside from 1870 and 1940, I'd say they've done rather well on the field.

[ThreePuttinDude]

OK, I see now

[yarddog]

For that matter the Italians actually fought well during some battles in WW I.

I agree the French are not as bad as has been said although the Germans did generally outfight them.

I doubt if any troops except maybe the Spartans at Thermopylae, fought better than the French did at Dien Bien Phu. They literally were outnumbered a hundred to one or something close to that.

[Diddle E. Squat]

He and his comrades are among the most hated men in the Iraqi capital.

Total and utter Bull____.

I harbor no illusions about the difficulties and complexities of post-war Iraq, and there areas where the US can be criticized. But I don't believe the above assessment for an instant.

This brave unnamed writer could come to a San Francisco protest and using the same select anecdotal useful idiot logic to conclude that Bush is among the most hated men in America(polling at approx. 75% approval rating).

[Beck_isright]

"Verdun was probably the longest, bloodiest battle in history, including Stalingrad."

As were most WWI battles because the morons that ran the French military were clueless beyond digging trenches and building big guns. The only thing that saved the Frogs in WWI was the entry of the US and the fact that the Brits decided to save their butts. Militarily speaking since the 1850's, they've sucked. You left out 1954, 1962, and many many many other examples. Refer to the long running thread on FR about the military history of France.

[swheats]

What an idiot to write such an article, as though the British didn't had to kill to get to the position they're in now.

[Prodigal Son]

As for the link- Never mind- I found it:

http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/04/wtroop04.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/05/04/ixnewstop.html

It is curious that they haven't attributed it. I'm going to write them and try and find out who wrote that piece. The Telegraph is the only newspaper I usually buy- not that I buy them that often but something to read on the bus or train...

The Telegraph is an excellent newspaper. I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water...

[Doe Eyes]

I'm going to say it again, I didn't trash the UK.

You stated:

That's odd - the Brits never complained about the tactics of our "mother****ing warriors" when the Yanks whipped Hitler for them...

As if all of our allies in the UK agree with this newspaper article. I suggest you direct your attack to the Daily Telegraph, not the "Brits".

[Polybius]

Now let me see, The Brits are liked in southern Iraq. The Americans are adored by the Kurds in northern Iraq. But the Americans are so much chopped liver acording to the article.

The author has not yet figured out that Baghdad was the center of Baathist power but that Basra and the Kurdish north were subject to repeated Baathist massacres of their Shiite and Kurdish populations.

He is comparing the degree of danger of patrolling the streets of Berlin and the streets of Paris on the week that World War II ended.

[headsonpikes]

Good post.

[stinkypew]

I beg to differ. The French came up with the infiltration/assault-in-depth tactics later used so effectively by the German stormtroops in the Spring of 1918. They also developed the layered defensive tactics - leaving the front line thinned out - which the Germans later adopted on a much wider scale.

That said, the Neville offensive was a rotten idea, but who's to say U.S. troops would not also have mutinied after such a debacle.

In sum, an honest review of history indicates to me that we do not necessarily have a better record in battle than the British or French.

[Prodigal Son]

Ahhh... I think it might be a fellow by the name of Alan Philps that wrote this story. He is a reporter for the Telegraph- covers the Middle East.

There is a similar story attributed to him in the leftist ezine "Common Dreams":

Iraqis Vow Revenge as Hatred of US Grows

[Prodigal Son]

Note to self (concerning previous post)- Also posted here at FR:

Iraqis Vow Revenge as Hatred of US Grows

[WaterDragon]

http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$S0FS31QOVZET3QFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F05%2F04%2Fwtroop04.xml&sSheet=%2Fnews

I cut and pasted it before, but here it is again. I don't know why the original article link at the top of the page doesnt work

[Beck_isright]

"In sum, an honest review of history indicates to me that we do not necessarily have a better record in battle than the British or French."

Any time you want to meet me in a bar near Camp LeJune and say that out loud, let me know. Have lots and lots of health insurance. I'm just going to be there to videotape the results. The Brits have their fair share of blunders, but none of the stupidity on the scale of that of the frogs. Comparing in any way the US military's history to that of the frogs is insulting and pisses me off.

[Clara Lou]

Your name wouldn't be Stinky "Le Pew" would it???? ;-)

[Pilsner]

The Brits have captured Basra before -- in 1915 and 1941. No doubt we will know enough to be better liked by the time we get around to taking Baghdad for third time circa 2088.

[WaterDragon]

This article bashing Americans is but one in a series during the war. Good luck writing to the Telegraph about it. Write them about anything else, and you'll get a courteous letter back, but write a courteous letter about these articles, and it disappears into a black hole.

[ChadGore]

Re: In the south, the British yadda yadda blah blah wubba wubba blah wubba blah

This ignores the reality that the south of Iraq was never very loyal to Saddom in the first place.
Puuuleeze.