It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by redmage
Did you really just put Vietnam in the "last few years" category?!?
Afghanistan (not the Soviet/Afghan war of the 80's) had great support worldwide due to 9-11. As did Gulf War I, due to Iraq invading Kuait.
I see this as more of a reflection on the current situation in Iraq, and the fact that we are now engaging in wars of "choice" (not necessity) based on what many feel are blatent false pretexts.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Thanks dan and Xphiles, nice to see our "close" ally the US doesnt think we're just here to scrounge off them
Originally posted by devilwasp
Remind me again why we're still in the JSF program?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Ah yes thats right....so americans can cancel british contracts.....
That's what your media is telling you. Reality is different.
This hypocrisy is what makes people fear USA ("oh, the gulf war? needed because Saddam invaded Kuwait"...as if it was ever possible that would affect USA in any way. Have you forgotten that you chose to stay out of WWII until Perl Harbor? Europe was in trouble with Hitler but you said "nooo, we are not gonna play, it is not our game").
Originally posted by danwild6
Face it! You were for the better part of 50yrs and still as recently as Bosnia and Kosovo in the 90's helpless in regards to threats to europe from inside europe. The US footed 90% of the bill for the Kosovo campaign.
You'd prefer to be working with the French? Oh thats right the last time you tried to get together with the French they wanted everybody to pay them to design and build the plane and then demanded to produce it entirely themselves.
Well if the Rolls-Royce engine actually worked it may not have been cancelled. But as I said before just team up with Jaques.
Originally posted by devilwasp
One question, why should we be the worlds policeman?
Why is it OUR duty to play defender? BTW, british troops where the first on the ground in bosnia, but hey that doesnt matter does it because you guys had a pilot shot down and rescued him so that makes you the heroes.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Atleast the french havent bombed us yet, atleast the french havent made us paint our APC's orange to stop the mighty and precise USAF from blowing them to pieces.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Did the plane fly? Yes , I would say it works from an engineering stand point, but hey what does an officer cadet know huh?
Originally posted by danwild6
I'm not suggesting Britain should take over the role of global enforcer. First of all you couldn't do it financially.
You don't want to play global policeman fine believe me I wish my country would just quit the position. My main problem with it is that it has resulted in people thinking the US is more dangerous than Iran or North Korea.
Now I'd like to ask a question or two. Do you believe the US is more dangerous than Iran or North Korea ? If so why?
Who made it possible for the Brits to just walk in.
The aerial campaign spearheaded by the USAF.
And yeah Scott Grady got shot down and we got him back. He got shot down trying to keep the peace in Bosnia because evidently the RAF(or anyother European Air Force)wasn't able to do it alone.
Hey man fratricide is apart of war and always has been, oh except for the Americans they have to be perfect don't they.
Thats the kind of crap I hate so much about peoples attitudes towards Americans. We can't make mistakes and if we are criticized as if we had done it on purpose. But I'm sure a Brit hasn't ever made a tragic mistake during the heat of battle.
Yeah with a Pratt and Whitney engine.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes because we realised about WW2 that : Wait this is getting expensive why not actually spend it on something for the country?
Originally posted by devilwasp
But IT IS! The US has the fire power to cause untold death and destruction across the globe, the US military has a global strike ability and not a good record with A2G attacks when it comes to hitting thier targets.
Originally posted by devilwasp
I do believe it is more dangerous for one reason: most american military lead operations and influence have caused the major wars in the last century.
Originally posted by devilwasp
I would think NATO but then again NATO is really USAF in american eyes...right?
Originally posted by devilwaspYes and?
Originally posted by devilwasp
So because the RAF cant bomb the crap out of a country we werent at war with means we're weak?
Originally posted by devilwasp
How about this: Europe could do it but didnt.
Originally posted by devilwasp
How many times have you seen british warplanes bomb american tanks?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Britain makes mistakes but come on, the american ROE record is rubbish from korea to iraq the american armed forces have a outshone themselves as the side that hits EVERYBODY in the engagement including their allies.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes my mistake although you havent listed yet that they have only built 12 of them so far for ground testing and it wont be made for another 2 years, how can you say it doesnt work if it hasnt been flight tested?
Originally posted by danwild6
Good for you
You've got to be kidding me! Compare how many incidents of friendly fire with the total A2G strikes that the USAF has made from Operation Desert Storm to Deny Flight, Desert Fox, Kosovo, Afghanistan and finally Iraq and you'll see how ludicrous your statement was.
How do you figure that? Was it American influence that caused WWI or WWII or the Korean War.
The only war in the 20th century that the US is truely guilty of being the bad guy in was Vietnam. If you can name others I'm all ears.
Well since that by far the bulk of NATO's airpower is drawn from the USAF than yes. And I think that is perfectly legitimate.
And what? Are you claiming some supporting role here?
The British Royal Air Force operated the Harrier GR7 and Tornado fighter jets as-well as an array of support aircraft.
lol: Man where were you educated? We didn't carpet bomb Bosnia or Kosovo or Afghanistan or anyone else.
We didn't even carpet bomb the Germans during WWII(the RAF however did and did it alot). Whenever the USAF has used strategic bombers they've been overwhelming been used in a tactical role against dug in enemy forces(Normandy breakout, Ho Chi Minh trail those kind of things).
[/'quote]
Why are you talking about strategic bombers?
You know why I don't buy that. Because if you could've you would've.
Why?
And who did you call?
So your saying that europe went BEGGING to you?
No I think you'll find we went in with NATO because that already included most of europe and therefore was a good starting point to a coalition.
How many times has an American tank wandered into an RAF kill box?
I dont know but then again we dont know if british tanks wandered into these "kill boxes" or if thats just the phrase used to describe US gunsights.
Maybe you should've informed the USAF that you had troops in the area.
Mabye they did AND they had massive markers on the top and a massive union flag flying from the back of it ?
Then get the hell out of he way!!!
Get the hell out of the way?
You mean like on hill 282 where the americans hit the british on a mountain they had radioed from?
Or like when US shot down a tornado inside a safe zone?
Why do you expect the USAF or the USN or anybody not to make mistakes.
I expect them not to shoot at my countrys troops with that bad a show of ROE, come on when was the last time you seen a US jet get shot down by a rapier SAM?
Actually the F135 is a derivative of the F119 that powers the F-22. The F135 uses the proven core of the F119. The F136 being codeveloped by rolls-royce and general electric has been experienceing technical difficulties and the F135 has been performing fine apparently and was developed from a proven design.
So because it worked in one plane its little brother should work fine so we dont need another engine to test ?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Thanks high praise from america is hard to get once there on the high moral horse.
Originally posted by devilwsp
You mean like the deaths of 4 canadian soldiers because they where in a TRAINING exercise with a 250 kiloton laser guided bomb? Or during the latest operation in iraq left one soldier dead, 3 more wounded and two clearly marked recon vehicles destroyed. Mabye we should go further back to say I dunno WW2 where 16% of all US casualties where caused by blue on blue or friendly fire.
During the vietnam war 14% of all US casualties where caused by friendly fire.
During the gulf war this level rose to 35% of all US casualties where caused by friednly fire.
No offence but the evidence speaks for itself.
Originally posted by devilwasp
US was involed in WW1 and WW2 which BTW sparked off the cold war (remember berlin 1945?)
Originally posted by devilwasp
They didnt cause the wars but they sure as hell influenced them enough to start others.
Originally posted by devilwasp
In iraq both the US and the UK got sadamm into power (causing several wars, not including genocide and 2 wars which the US took part in) hell the US even assisted the iranians in thier coup!
Originally posted by devilwasp
Afghanistan was caused by america backing the taliban (remember those nice shiny stingers?) when they where fighting the russians.
Originally posted by devilwasp
So much for the "Hear felt" thanks of the US when britain spilt blood alongside it in nearly every war but hey you dont care about us do you?
Originally posted by devilwasp
I never said carpet bomb, are you denying that the US has that ability?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Why are you talking about strategic bombers?
Originally posted by devilwasp
So your saying that europe went BEGGING to you?
No I think you'll find we went in with NATO because that already included most of europe and therefore was a good starting point to a coalition.
Originally posted by devilwasp
I dont know but then again we dont know if british tanks wandered into these "kill boxes" or if thats just the phrase used to describe US gunsights.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Mabye they did AND they had massive markers on the top and a massive union flag flying from the back of it ?
Originally posted by
Get the hell out of the way?
You mean like on hill 282 where the americans hit the british on a mountain they had radioed from?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Or like when US shot down a tornado inside a safe zone?
Originally posted by devilwasp
I expect them not to shoot at my countrys troops with that bad a show of ROE, come on when was the last time you seen a US jet get shot down by a rapier SAM?
Originally posted by devilwasp
So because it worked in one plane its little brother should work fine so we dont need another engine to test ?
Originally posted by danwild6
Yeah man and the evidence says *explative happens in war.
I was aware of the tragedy in Afghainstan involving the Canadians thats what it was a tragedy I highly doubt we attacked the Canadians on purpose.
And yeah maybe you Brits would do better job protecting against fratricide. IMO you probably would given your superiour commitment to training.
Yeah we were involved like Britain, France, Russia, Italy and Germany. But it wasn't US political, military or economic influence that started them was it.
But it was US military and economic power that ended them.
Okay I'm all ears.
No Saddam got himself in power we helped him stay there.
Again we(US or UK weren't the ones ordering the gasing or the executions.
And as far as the Iranian coup if you are refering to the 1952 counter coup that returned the Shah to power that was a joint CIA MI-6 operation.
Actually we aided the Mujahadden who's leader would later lead fight against the Taliban(he was assassinated on 9/9 just two days before the terror attacks).
Oh come off it m8. You love bitching at us and we love you as our friend(you're the last one we have).
If you want to now how Americans really feel come on over say a couple words in your debonaire Scottish accent(just don't get pissed if at first someone asks you if your english)and I believe you'll find out how greatful Americans are to our last true friend.
No we do but the USAF has long realized that massed targeting of civilian targets i.e startegic bombing doesn't have the effect that was first theorized between WWI and WW2
When you said bomb the hell out of a country I thought you were suggesting the indiscriminate bombing of civilians targets which has never been apart of USAF doctrine.
Where did I say you begged us?
My point was you asked us for help because the EC's attempts at a peaceful resolution had failed so blatently and repeatedly that their was no other choice you couldn't end the war on your own.
And yes it was the NATO alliance which the US has commited itself to the defense of Europe since its founding in 1949.
No my friend its the term given to USAF pilots to describe an area east by westnorth by south where their shouldn't be anyone but the enemy.
Maybe they did maybe they didn't(either way someone covered their arse well) thats called the fog of war. And I've heard the story of the company flying the Union Jack whether it was observable to the pilot I just don't know.
Honestly I really don't have an answer for other than the US troops weren't properly trained.
A gittery Pat-2 crew again with out adequate training.
Can you give me a reason it wouldn't.
It by far wouldn't be the first time this has been done in fact its rather commonplace to use a proven engine as a starting point for a new development. Just think Rolls-Royce kestrel and merlin
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes its a part of war, but I'd expect it not to happen as much as it has considering your troops are supposed to be top of the line.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Then how did the bomb hit them if it wasnt being aimed at them by a laser?
Originally posted by devilwasp
We DO, the only challenger to die from an engagement was from another challanger during a dust storm.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes along with the UK acting as a staging point for an invasion and the russians beating hitler.
Originally posted by devilwasp
American bankers bank rolled the nazi party during WW2, the US distrusted the USSR (along with the entire western world) and helped create the 2 armed camps.
The US fear of spread of a communism lead it into korea and into vietnam.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes it was a joint operation but it changes nothing.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes but who was a large supporter and expert stinger missile operator of those engaged in that war ? Mr Usama bin Laden , a large supporter , finacer and fighter of the taliban thank you CIA for training him.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Last time I checked we only love to bitch because you guys kill ours....kinda doesnt set a good image, no?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Been there , done that and bought the T shirt that says: Americans dont get taught geography. BTW my friend got stopped in america while eating his breakfast by an old lady to say thanks that our troops where in iraq fighting along side hers and she would say a prayer of thanks to them.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Ahem you said called.
Originally posted by devilwasp
And how do you know we couldnt end it on our own?
We had more than enough resources and more than enough training in situations such as that.
Originally posted by devilwasp
East by westnorth by south? Is that even a navigational saying in the USAF?
Well why didnt they look at the targets before firing?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Its not a jack unless its on a warships jackstay.
A massive red , white and blue flag cant be seen by someone who is flying close enough to actually see the people?
Origginally posted by devilwasp
Eh? Then why do they get sent to war?
Originaly posted by devilwasp
Yet again why not trained?
Originally posted by devilwasp
The fact that the F-22 engine wasnt designed to take off vertically a good answer?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yes but its a bit diffrent from using a past helicopter engine on another helicopter.
Originally posted by danwild6
American bankers are like bankers from anywhere on the planet they are greedy and know no loyalty except to their pocket book. However I don't see how you can tie the US military or the government to unlawful activities that don't even serve their own interests.
And as far as the US being the bad guy during the Cold War please. Stalin before he knew the power of the A-Bomb informed his generals to prepare to attack the west by 1947.
And as far as Korea the US full filled its UN obligations and held free-elections the Soviet backed North however declined and promptly invaded the South. The US then went to the UN security council and with UN approval led a policeing action to throw the Communists out of the Republic of Korea.
Just showing we weren't the only ones using our "influence"
Actually their isn't an ounce of evidence to support that the CIA directly supported Bin Laden but guilt by association is quite common in todays world.
He received security training from the CIA itself, according to Middle Eastern analyst Hazhir Teimourian.
Or how we're handling the latest crisis in the mid-east or on debt relief or trade etc....
Alot of americans feel that way. You can take a pole of Americans on what nation they respect the most and I guarantee Britain will always top the list. Doesn't mean we have to agree on everything bbut we do respect you.
Oh sorry I guess thats a difference between American English and Scottish English. When we say called usually that refers to picking up a phone(diplomatic line what have you)and asking for assistance. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Then why didn't you?
I was attempting to illustrate that a kill box is a sector of a battlefield assigned to warplanes to dominate and deny the enemy its use.
He may not have made visual identification he may have used either thermal or radar detection. If that was the case your flag wouldn't have been visible.
Or the large makrings on the side, I find it a bit bad that they fired without checking.
Because you go to war with the army you have not the army you want.
If you dont have the men trained then how can they fight?
I mean come on!
Probably because the USAF prefers to spend their money on reverse engineering alien spacecraft. In other words they had other priorities.
But having a man able to use equipment IS the highest priority.
The F-35 uses a lift fan designed by Rolls-Royce for its vertical thrust. We didn't cancel that contract despite being over budget and fan being over weight
No you didnt cancel that project because boeing doesnt have a replacement.
Actually the Merlin powered the Hurricane, Spitfire, Mustang fighters and Lancaster heavy bomber. And it was done with jet aircraft through the cold war. Here's something you can be proud of.
Rolls-Royce Avon
Oh....right sorry I thought you meant the helicopter...
Originally posted by devilwasp
I never said unlawful activities and that did serve thier intrests at the time because they wanted a strong ally in the west.
Originally posted by devilwasp
I never said they where the bad guys because frankly both where.
Stalin may have ordered his troops to be ready but did the US president and military order and train thier troops to specifically to kill russian forces?
Originally posted by devilwasp
But why? America would not have become interested in korea at all if it didnt fear communism.
Originally posted by devilwasp
No but you were no inocent party.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Ahem:
He received security training from the CIA itself, according to Middle Eastern analyst Hazhir Teimourian.
Originally posted by devilwasp
The UK does not complain about US actions in the middle east if there is nothing to complain about ie: civilian casualties. The rest I havent heard british public whine about.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Still they cant even find britian on a map of europe for crying out loud (atlest florida camera men cant)
Originally posted by devilwasp
Called = begged One is the extreme of the other, I havent heard of european leaders asking the US for assistance but if I'm wrong please link me.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Why should we?
Originally posted by devilwasp
To be honuest I dont know why the NATO leaders wanted US involvement but then again we wont know what happens in NATO meetings will we?
Originally posted by devilwasp
But isnt the term: Look before you leap or ask questions before you shoot a good idea?
originally posted by devilwasp
Or the large markings on the side, I find it a bit bad that they fired without checking.
Originally psted by devilwasp
If you dont have the men trained then how can they fight?
I mean come on!
Originally posted by devilwasp
But having a man able to use equipment IS the highest priority.
Originally posted by devilwasp
No you didnt cancel that project because boeing doesnt have a replacement.
Originally posted by danwild6
Pre-1941(that is pre attack on Pearl Harbour)the US generally didn't give a crap about what went on outside the western hemisphere even when the second world war erupted. It was only after the the war that we became more involved in global affairs(i.e supporting nasty people outside the Americas).
Trained to kill specifically Russian forces? Do you have to shoot Russians in a particular way?
When did I say that? Just pick up a history book or watch an old news reel and you'll see just how terrified of the Russians we were.
An unsubstantiated claim doesn't fit my idea of evidence.
How about climate change or US support for a lasting peace in the middle east(i.e not calling Israel off until hezbollah has been nuetralized). Tony Blair has supported us but the British public doesn't.
I can find Britain on a map and I'm sure most Americans can as well.
As far as Florida cameramen theirs probably a good chance they don't even speak English or have drown their sorrows on South Beach(I wish I could). They're hardly representative of all Americans.
Why shouldn't you? Why shouldn't you end a horrible destabilizing war in your own backyard.
Europe the champion of human rights failing to intervine and stop what were the worst human rights abuses in Europe since the holocaust.
Probably because they couldn't launch a successfull air campaign without the USAF which is by far possess the main conventional stiking power of the NATO alliance.
Force protection applies here. You look up if the enemy is their he'll probably be able to get a shot off. And in a slow moving A-10 that isn't a good thing.
Well actually its Lockheed and isn't that what replacements are for when something doesn't work you use the one that does.
And as far as I can tell the F136 hasn't been officially cancelled yet.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Then why did the US supply food to the UK?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Why the propaganda war against the russians if not to kill them?
I dont remember any propaganda against iran then.
Originally posted by evilwasp
You didnt say anything about I said the US was frightened of the USSR and its capability (IE anti comunist propaganda?) why else would the US give a dam,m about SK?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yet its ok to go to war over with?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Climate change?
Umm mabye because isreal has killed more civilians than enemy so far and the fact you use civilian planes and airports as refueling stations for planes carrying bombs.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Ummm he did speak english and most americans I talked to over there dont know that britain isnt a cluster of islands.
Originally posted by devilwasp
So because someone is doing bad we should play policemen and go in and stop the fighting huh?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Europe is not and has never claimed to be anything of the sort, if the US want to think of us as that then I'm happy with it. But frankly its none of our buisness what someone hundreds of miles away does is it?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Your saying that europe has not go the conventional air power to do what the USAF done during the wars? I highly doubt THAT.
Originally posted by devilwasp
So your ok with americans shooting anything that moves because it MIGHT be an enemy?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Could you reprhase that a bit I'm sorry are you saying that lockheed has a replacement or?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Yet we're at the stage that the US pres wont listen to his "strongest ally's" requests.
Originally posted by danwild6
Propoganda in general is used to gather support for politcial actions. In this case to win the US public's support for countinued involvement in europe.
Come again? We went to war because Usama sposored a terrorist attack against the US that killled thousands. I'm sure you've heard of 9/11. Not because some mid-east journalist said we supported him 20yrs prior.
Oh come on! American tourists get heckled for the US stance of Kyoto.
And the transport of weapons was never a problem until someone from europe no less realized they were going to there favorite wiping boy... Israel
Maybe they do now. Maybe they did then but from what I've read about the EC-EU involvement in the Balkan wars they wanted to handle it themselves and when they couldn't they needed the US to put troops on the ground and support the operation..
No I meant that Lockheed is building the JSF not Boeing.
I think Bush is listening quite clearly
To no avail
Originally posted by devilwasp
I doubt that was the only reason.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Umm no I meant the current iraq war...
last I heard mr Usama hadnt had any connection with iraq concerning 9/11.
Originally posted by devilwasp
HUh!
Where ??? What sad individuals do that?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Or mabye not a problem until the public knew about it...?
Originally posted by devilwasp
Well thats you take I'd say diffrently because frankly we had quite a force still after the cold war and more than enough with combined european forces to handle it.
Originally posted by danwild6
Okay enlighten me.
As I recall we were debating US support for Bin Laden in Afghanistan during the 80's.
Sorry didn't feel like chatting but I did inform them I'd take it up personally with Bushy(we're old drinking buddies)on my return home.
Oh come on, its not like it was a secret or anything its just when the weapons were going to a jewish democratic allie that it became a problem.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Possibly a reason to get support for a build up of arms home and abroad, because the americans feared comunism (more like the fall of capatilism) and to portray the many "comunist" countries and people as enemies to allow for political moves.
Originally postd by devilwasp
As I recall we were debating a larger subject than that but if you want to focus on afghanistan then we shall.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Idiots, I'm afraid only sad people come up and say : "Whats up with your country and not taking up the koyoto?"
Right choice of action you took.
Originally posted by devilwasp
Well I'm afraid most jo blogs down here didnt know it (I live like an hour and a half drive from the place...) and frankly it wasnt exsactly picked up by the media.