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Now it's the Brit's turn for some support.

By The Armorer on August 19, 2004 | | Comments (7)

This being a Combined Effort of a Canadian Forces rep, CAPT H, and myself - we anglosphere soldiers gotta stick together!

Who will defend our Armed Forces from enemies at home? By John Keegan (Filed: 18/08/2004)


The Armed Forces are the most admired institution in Britain. How strange, therefore, that the Armed Forces should have so few friends among our masters. The Prime Minister declares his admiration for our Service people, as well he might, considering how often he turns to them for help in furthering his foreign policy - in the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East - and to rescue him from domestic difficulty, as over the foot-and-mouth epidemic and the fire fighters' strike. When, however, they need his protection as they do in the present cost-cutting climate, he is nowhere to be found.

As CAPT H says, "Indeed!"

The full bit is here, at The Telegraph.

I'm also reading Keegan's "The Iraq War." So far, it's been a good intro to the war for the generalist, with a nice background on Saddam's rise to power and subsequent abuse thereof. I'm also working through Imperial Hubris, and American Soldier. More on them to come.

On the other hand, with little more than a terse, "No Comment" CAPT H passed along this little gem, also from The Telegraph.

Why is the US doing its best to alienate all of its allies? By Stephen Robinson (Filed: 19/08/2004)


It must have been around the fifth hour of internment during my visa ordeal on Tuesday when the quiet, controlled anger of my little gang of fellow visa seekers hardened into rebellious contempt. It was hot, there was no water to drink, and the US embassy vending machine was not working.



Then, a young US Marine in fatigues and flashy desert combat boots, kitted out as though he was just back from patrol in Najaf, sauntered through the waiting room, with a military baton swinging from his belt.

We despondent huddled masses, who had been queueing in Grosvenor Square since just after dawn for a stamp in our passports to allow us to go to America, looked in utter bewilderment at this preposterous show of force.

There are two sides to this, I'm sure. But, since we aren't allowed to profile, I guess we have no choice but to piss off everyone, in order to not piss off a few.

How egalitarian.

The whole piece is here.

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7 Comments

By Sigivald on August 19, 2004 11:30 AM
Jesus Christ, what a whiny little bastard. The fact that a Marine (presumeably one of the people there to, you know, guard the Embassy) has a baton on his belt is a preposterous insult? I've seen plenty of pictures (thanks, Samizdata!) of British policemen with MP-5s. And this guy is freaking out over a baton? Perhaps it's best if he doesn't get a visa.
 
By Montieth on August 19, 2004 11:48 PM
The state department sucks, even for us Americans. On my one trip a few years ago to Montreal, the Gf lost her passport. She dutifully went to the US consulate there in Montreal, I walked as well. As it turned out despite my american citizenship I couldn't wait inside with her. I couldn't wait in the lobby. Nor could I wait in the foyer. I had to stand on the street. I'm bloody glad it was only May and not January.
 
By j.pickens on August 21, 2004 9:53 PM
The solution to this is simple. Merely set the visa price at a level which minimizes the wait at the visa office window. If the visa application fee were, say, 3000 British pounds, the applicant probably wouldn't have to wait very long. If we closed the borders a tad better, we could charge 10,000 pounds, and I bet there would still be plenty of takers.
 
By Tim Worstall on August 22, 2004 6:19 AM
Three things: 1) Visa fees are reciprocal. If we Brits have to pay 10,000 pounds to get to the States then US citizens have to pay 10,000 pounds to get to the UK. Just the way the system works. 2) Having a visa often doesn't help: I've been refused entry despite having a valid 10 year multi-entry visa. Thanks INS. 3) If you really want to see the visa system in action have a look at this: http://timworstall.typepad.com/timworstall/2004/04/your_tax_money__1.html Yes, I'm aware that this might be considered trolling but it does address the point. It's a description by my old business partner (an American) of the problems caused to American businesses by the way US Embassies handle the visa process. At one point they actually rejected a visa for a Russian Deputy Minister. Read and weep.
 
By John of Argghhh! on August 22, 2004 8:11 AM
Don't see any trolls here, Tim. I personally have never had problems, but most of my travel was gov't oriented. The last trip I made to Blighty, last October, *was* the first time I got any scrutiny going into England, and the inspector was mainly making sure I wasn't trying to sneak in on a business visa to emigrate. When I told her that I had 3300 square foot house on an acre, that cost $105,000 why would I *possibly* want to move to England on a permanent basis, well, she asked if there were any houses in my neighborhood available!
 
By Tim Worstall on August 22, 2004 10:08 AM
$105,000? Good grief, the wife has started packing. Now, where do we turn left?
 
By John of Argghhh! on August 22, 2004 10:58 AM
Assuming you don't miss the right turn at Albuquerque, depending on whether you hit this 'burg from the river bridge, or came up from '70, the left would be off of Metropolitan onto 10th, or off of Hwy 4 onto Eisenhower. 8^D