Words of Wisdom
Top US general in the Middle East, General John Abizaid, says if the world does not find a way to stem the rise of Islamic militancy, it will face a third world war. General Abizaird compared the rise of militant ideologies such as that driving al-Qaeda (al-Qaida) to the rise of fascism in Europe, which set the stage for World War ll.
In his words, "If we don't have the guts enough to confront this ideology today, we'll go through World War lll tomorrow."
Now is not the time to tread softly, wear kid gloves or ignore General Abizaid's words of wisdom.
I'm glad someone is listening to me. He's right.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad someone is listening to me. I'm right!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think No Australians and very few British soldiers have been killed in Iraq?
ReplyDeleteIt is because WE do things differently..We don't carry a big stick like the yanks. We don't think that shear fire power will win. They are creating a Vietnam like situation and do not want to lose, again, because of the oil. I think they approached it all wrong and now don't know how to get out of it. The 'insurgents' are usually rival religuous sects fighting each other with the yanks in the way. These are not soley 'terrorists' as such but rather internal factions fighting for the right to govern/rule their country. Do the yanks truely believe that any terrorist worth his salt would remain in Iraq to train? I thinmk thyey all would have left for sonme other country long ago to pursue their chosen path. Those that remain are political terrorists in their own country. Afghanistan is another story with the taliban a truely corrupt group but again they are an internal force and not a truw threat (yet) to western powers. I hate terrorists and always have. I was in the military for twenty tears and have never agreed with US tactics (Strategic or Tactical). I agree that true terrorists should be stamped out at all costs but we should also look at the cause and what effect we (westerners) have on the cause.
It is a very complex situation, this I agree but I still believe this has to be 'nipped in the bud' as Gen. Abizaid says. Hitler was given free reign and ignored and look what happened there!
ReplyDeleteI used to be friends with Colonel David Hackworth, who was, at the time, and probably still is, the most highly decorated soldier in the US Army. David left the US army during the Vietnam War as he didn't like what was going on and what he was privvy to. He was persecuted for his actions, of course. Before Francis Ford Coppola began filming 'Apocalypse Now' he flew to Sydney to talk with David. The characters played by Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando in that movie were based on Hackworth. When David left the army he lived in Australia, building a house on 360 acres of land he'd purchased at Uki in northern New South Wales. Sadly, David passed away in May of 2005. He was buried with full honours at Arlington National Cemetery after a full memorial service at Fort Myers Chapel. David was a wonderful man, of a calibre not often seen. I'm glad I had the chance of knowing him.
I'm glad someone is listening to both of you and to Gen. Abizaid!!
ReplyDeleteAs I have said before, Lee, you've led a very interesting life. Ever thought of writing about it?? If not, why not?
Other people's lives are very interesting to those of us who stagnate quietly in corners, lol!
While I think Gen. Abizaid is probably pretty right in what he says I'm not sure his; ("If we don't have the guts enough to confront this ideology today, we'll go through World War lll tomorrow.")
ReplyDeleteattitude is the full answer, for every person grateful to the West for getting rid of a dictator there seems to be two who hate the West more than the dictators.
A very complex problem.
Small world Lee...my Dad is from Uki :)
ReplyDeleteell, how about that, scorpy...I wonder if he ran into David when he was living there. David married an Australian woman...known as 'Peter Hackworth" now, of course...and yes, that is how she spells her first name. I worked at night in Peter's restaurant "Scaramouche" which was on the corner of Turbot Street...just across from the Brisbane River. Peter and David were introduced by a mutual friend and eventually married, had a son...sold "Scaramouche" around 1984...they divorced. David left Aus and went back to the US. Have a look at his website...http://www.hackworth.com/
ReplyDeletePeter still lives in Brisbane and is still in the restaurant business, opening up a new one in Kenmore about 3 years ago now, I think it was. She started the Riverside Markets back in 1987 at Southbank and also started the Mud Markets up in Cairns. She began in the business many, many years ago when still a young woman...her mother loaned her the money to open up her own business...it was called 'The Primitif'...it was in the Piccadilly Arcade opposite the GPO in Brisbane. From there she went onto "The Great Amercian Disaster" in the SGIO building then onto 'Manouche' on Milton Road, Toowong, then 'Scaramouche'...then to Pasta, Pasta etc., and another restaurant upstairs in that same building at St. Lucia...it's name escapes me for the moment...but she had belly-dancers etc., there. Peter is a lady of vision and great imagination and is held in high regard within the restaurant industry in Brisbane and Qld. When she met with David, he took over the running of 'Scaramouche' and ran a very tight 'ship'...he ran it with the discipline of the army...and it was through him that they eventually sold the business for a very good price. All the food scraps from the restaurant went down to his property at Uki, where he had a manager. All the herbs, a lot of the vegetables and fresh ducks came from the farm back into the restaurant. They built up the duck business that it ended up servicing restaurants from Port Douglas through down to Sydney.
The house that David built on his property was built from timber cut from his land...it was a fabulous house...no doubt still is...no matter were you were in the house, seated or standing you had a view throughout the land and surrounding mountains. Before he built he would camp on the land in different areas until he found the perfect spot to construct his home.
Well, we just make sure we don't let those who hate us win, Peter! ;)
ReplyDeleteI might get around to writing the "great Australian novel" one day, Robyn! ;)
ReplyDeleteAll I have to say on this subject is I wish all our troops would come home ...it's obvious they don't want our help in the Middle East. All they've ever known for centuries is how to fight...heck they're born and raised learning how to fight and carry a machine gun. They'll never change so why are the troops still there, being killed off one by one? I'm in Canada and it burns me no end that we have troops over there!!
ReplyDeleteYou knew the Hack, cool. I read his book, can't recall the name but it was massive, in all respects. What a man.
ReplyDeleteAdrian...David "Hack"...(I always called him 'David' but he was widely called 'Hack') was a great man. He had charisma before 'charisma' became a popular word. He exuded power, leadership, strength...he was a man and he bore it well. He was intelligent, crazy and a lot of fun. There was never a dull moment around him. He was 'special'.
ReplyDeleteHe was midst writing his final book on 'Leadership' when he passed away. He wrote many books: 'Hazardous Duty', 'The Price of Honour', 'Vietnam Primer', 'About Face, Brave Men', 'Hearts', 'Steel My Soldiers' Hearts'.
He was the soldier's advocate and he was the soldiers' best friend.
I 'hear' what you're saying, Pea.
ReplyDeleteIt's a small world, Lee. Who, in Brisbane, hasn't heard of Peter Hackworth and her wonderful restaurants and markets? I've always found her quite fascinating and what you have told here makes here even more of a fascinating personality. Even when you wrote about David Hackworth, I still didn't put two and two together!
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn, Peter is a very unique woman, that's for sure. She was very interesting and fun to work with. We had some wild old times at 'Scaramouche' and 'Manouche'. Lots of stories wrapped in those two restaurants and I will expand on a few one of these days. It was an intriguing and interesting time in my life and I'm glad I had the experience. She's done a lot for the restaurant business in Brisbane. I only went in to help out one day...stayed on into the night to help at the door and then I went on working at 'Scaramouche' on Friday and Saturday evenings (it was just a second job at night as I had a full time job in the fashion industry during the days) and by the end of my time at the restaurant I was working five nights a week! We used to do three turnovers a night! It was the busiest restaurant in Brisbane in those days. It changed the face of restaurants and eating out in Brisbane. It was a turning point.
ReplyDeleteI just remembered the name of the other restaurant she opened in St. Lucia, upstairs from 'Pasta, Pasta, Etc.'...it was called 'Cats' Tango'. It was a fascinating and intriguing restaurant too. I visited it the week after it opened. By that stage, I was living up on the Sunshine Coast.
ReplyDelete