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All Hail the Swiss!
New American (Vol 17, No. 27) Insider Report ^
| 31 Dec 01
| self as parrot
Posted on 12/14/2001 3:51:56 PM PST by raygun
Switzerland, commented Niccolo Machiavelli in the 16th century, is "the most armed and most free" of all the nations of Europe. Since 1674, Switzerland has observed a policy of strict neutrality, using its civilian militia to protect its borders and refraining from interference in the affairs of other nations. To this day, Switzerland - which quite sensibly has declined to join the United Nations - remains independent of military alliances. And on 2 December 01, Swiss voters resoundingly defeated a proposal to abolish its citizen-based armed forces.
Switzerland Without an Army, the leftist, pro-EU group which proposed the referendum, denigrated Switzerland's citizen army as an "outdated institution and a 'man's world where blind obediance and contempt of women still rules' " "People are hanging on to certainties, to the suppoesed existing security," complained Tobia Schebli, a spokesman for the anti-army group.
The Swiss government, in materials published prior to the vote, pointed out: "Even if the risk of a military threat against Switzerland appears weak today it cannot be permanently ruled out." The government also noted that abolishing the army would put an end to the nation's neutrality, since it would become upon alliances for defense in the event of an attack.
TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Editorial
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1
posted on
12/14/2001 3:51:56 PM PST
by
raygun
To: raygun
Bump for the Swiss.
2
posted on
12/14/2001 3:55:53 PM PST
by
Ahban
Comment #3 Removed by Moderator
To: raygun
if under invasion, the swiss can always head to the alps and hide in the caves, moving about from cave to cave on their swiss railroads -- the world's best. nobody could possibly defeat a nation that has these conditions going for them....
4
posted on
12/14/2001 4:03:41 PM PST
by
mlocher
To: raygun
They make good cheese, too.
To: Doctor Doom
And some darned fine army knives, don't forget.
To: All
Pat Buchanan should check out this place. Sounds like his kind of joint. No UN (good idea), armed (better idea), and absolutely no role in the world (only good for them because of that "evil" alliance that the Swiss hide behind - NATO). I wish we lived in a world where we could mind our own business, but the world would be a different place if not for all the interventions of the USA (both world wars, Korea, Iraq, and now those peaceable, lovable, terrorists in Afghanistan). Sorry, PJB: it's either involvement, or be at the mercy of any strong man who rises up against us. It's not an empire, just preserving a world where we don't live in one, under someone else's thumb.....
7
posted on
12/14/2001 4:18:10 PM PST
by
Malcolm
To: humblegunner
Yep, an airport security nightmare.
Comment #9 Removed by Moderator
Comment #10 Removed by Moderator
To: raygun
The Swiss know that freedom ain't free and that There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.
TANSTAAFL!
11
posted on
12/14/2001 4:34:33 PM PST
by
LibKill
To: cajunjim1963
"Are they still letting you run around here" Danged if they aint!! How you been, cher'...??
All is well here, y'all ok? -HG1964-
To: raygun
Hitler's bankers, and probably Osama Bin Laden's, too. I, for one, won't be joining their admiration society.
To: LibKill
FREE LUNA!
-Manuel Garcia O'Kelly-
To: Malcolm
I have no clue who PBJ is. However, your comments reveal the true depths of your ignorance.
Washington's Farewell speech is just so much obsolete anachronistic garbage spewed by a bunch of uneducated agrarian rapscallions. Probably best if we stuck with King George, no?
15
posted on
12/14/2001 4:52:17 PM PST
by
raygun
To: Batrachian
Acutally, it is quite very well documented that Hitler's financing came from not the Swiss. I'm not going to do your research for you, but your claims are patently false.
16
posted on
12/14/2001 4:54:35 PM PST
by
raygun
To: michigander
I have one of those!
17
posted on
12/14/2001 4:57:09 PM PST
by
LibKill
To: raygun
You're mistaken. Not only did the Swiss provide major financing for the Third Reich, including holding gold stolen from concentration camp victims, but they also provided them with important war materiel, especially precision components such as gauges. Who are these others that financed Hitler that you mention?
To: Batrachian
but they also provided them with important war materiel, especially precision components such as gauges Just as they did the Allies (although, being a landlocked country surrounded by axis or conquered territory, their trade with the Allies was less than with the axis). Same with the Swedes, and like the Swedes, the Gov't. of Switzerland was neutral in favor of the axis early in the war and neutral in favor of the Allies late in the war (the people of both countries personally favored the Allies the whole war, though).
The Swiss gov't did exactly what it took to preserve their nation and people during the carnage that engulfed the rest of europe during WWII. Just what a gov't is supposed to do. Can't find fault with their actions and I wish our gov't would learn a lesson from them.
To: raygun
Swiss voters resoundingly defeated a proposal to abolish its citizen-based armed forces.Thanks for a little ray of sanity in a rapidly deteriorating world.
How many hoops does one have to jump through to become a Swiss citizen??? Or can I just pay a coyote to sneak me in and then live off Swiss welfare for the rest of my life?
20
posted on
12/14/2001 5:32:04 PM PST
by
Arleigh
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