Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
US should permanently place a new First Fleet in Darwin : Babones
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
University of Sydney Associate Professor Salvatore Babones has called for the United States to permanently place a new First Fleet in Darwin, given China is pointing a “hypothetical dagger” at Australia.
Discussing news China recently announced it will build a new $200 million fishery complex at Daru Island in PNG’s western province, Professor Babones said “everyone knows it’s not a fishing facility”.
“It’s clearly meant as a hypothetical dagger pointing at Australia saying ‘if you keep upsetting us we’ll keep putting on pressure’,” he told Sky News host Chris Smith.
Mr Babones said the proposal to support American allies via a re-established First Fleet is backed by the US Navy and would take some of the pressure off the Seventh Fleet – which is based in Japan.
“The idea that it (a new First Fleet) will mainly port in Singapore I think is fantastical, the Singaporean government does nothing ever to upset China, and this would upset China,” he said.
“Singapore is also a poor choice from a technical standpoint because they’re very crowded waters.
“Much better to have it somewhere close to the action, but where there’s more space, and I think Darwin is probably ideal from that standpoint.”
