tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post8646342662758150010..comments2024-01-03T05:18:54.650-05:00Comments on CDR Salamander: Well, Turkey has a solution ....CDR Salamanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05981221786954902349noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-51306774047987607632011-10-27T13:32:45.034-04:002011-10-27T13:32:45.034-04:00Kirsten, thanks, but no. But all my life I've ...Kirsten, thanks, but no. But all my life I've been reading in English.<br /><br />Also, kids here have been growing up in an anglosaxon (popular) cultural context since the sixties. The music we listen to, the programmes on TV, it's all in English. Mostly American English.Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-63427588915561371902011-10-27T13:30:46.459-04:002011-10-27T13:30:46.459-04:00URR, the Turks at ANZAC Cove and Cape Helles, okay...URR, the Turks at ANZAC Cove and Cape Helles, okay. But that's why I wrote 'been losing every major engagement since the fall of the Ottoman empire'.<br /><br />And you know who was the Turkish commander, right? A fella who called the islamic religion 'a rotten corpse'. And who forbade the wearing of the fez.<br /><br />I'll check out that book, 'The heights of courage'. One of these days I'm gonna order that book about flattops and US naval aviation in the Pacific in WWII, may order<br />your book too.Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-90744007200883771052011-10-27T07:44:48.133-04:002011-10-27T07:44:48.133-04:00URR: The correct translation is: Mayis'ya yedi...URR: The correct translation is: Mayis'ya yedi gun.Saturn 5https://www.blogger.com/profile/14232575234018835873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-22756243565790299802011-10-26T23:38:02.000-04:002011-10-26T23:38:02.000-04:00Anything for a fellow VermonterAnything for a fellow VermonterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-85799870601272760102011-10-26T23:06:07.000-04:002011-10-26T23:06:07.000-04:00Thanks, guest!
It was a movie reference, however ...Thanks, guest!<br /><br />It was a movie reference, however obscure. Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eva Gardner (hubba hubba!).UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-53062786527906312862011-10-26T22:48:55.775-04:002011-10-26T22:48:55.775-04:00Yedi gun Mayis ayindaYedi gun Mayis ayindaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-35566251648017179042011-10-26T17:17:22.310-04:002011-10-26T17:17:22.310-04:00Kristen, Yes I did. He was a great boss (I was hi...Kristen, Yes I did. He was a great boss (I was his Deputy) to the International Officers, although he ran the Turks like Plebes. Smart, dedicated, and the image of the secular Turkish officer. He was a US Naval War College grad who'd also been their Naval Attache in DC.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-85010878445806758332011-10-26T16:52:49.260-04:002011-10-26T16:52:49.260-04:00C-dore, wow. Did you like him? Was he a competen...C-dore, wow. Did you like him? Was he a competent CO?Kristennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-22668941684232176352011-10-26T13:22:42.204-04:002011-10-26T13:22:42.204-04:00The number of Admirals is not surprising when you ...The number of Admirals is not surprising when you consider that a "tombstone promotion" is still common there when a senior officer retires to improve his pension. The Greeks and Italians used to do it as well as a matter of routine. One of my Greek colleagues at NATO was stunned that I wouldn't be promoted to RADM when I retired.<br /><br />BTW, one of those detained Admirals was my first NATO boss.C-dore 14noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-76418788867645875472011-10-25T23:41:35.357-04:002011-10-25T23:41:35.357-04:00They also managed to corner Brits in Iraq in 1916....They also managed to corner Brits in Iraq in 1916... no, the Turks at heart are the same hardy Anatolian farmers that formed core of the armies of Hittites, Persians, Diadochs , Romans, Bysantians, Osmans. Give them a commander of the Attaturk format and they can kick anybody's ass.ewok40knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-55218658405912483522011-10-25T19:53:21.000-04:002011-10-25T19:53:21.000-04:00Mike, I'm always amazed at how colloquial your...Mike, I'm always amazed at how colloquial your English is. You're Belgian, right? Did you used to live over here?Kristennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-17806957092248572012011-10-25T18:30:27.033-04:002011-10-25T18:30:27.033-04:00Well, the Egyptians were clever enough to breach t...Well, the Egyptians were clever enough to breach the Bar-Lev line, and keep the IAF off their backs for most of the '73 war. <br /><br />And I do believe the Turks that held the trenches at ANZAC Cove and Cape Helles were not the shiftless cowards the Tommies and Aussies expected to find. UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-68815940459738345712011-10-25T18:12:12.604-04:002011-10-25T18:12:12.604-04:00URR, that reminds me a bit of the opinion the Germ...URR, that reminds me a bit of the opinion the Germans had of their Soviet counterparts during WWII. The average Soviet soldier knew how to fight and die bravely, but was in a great many instances poorly led.<br /><br />At the outbreak of WWII the Soviets had qualtitative and quantitative advantage over the Germans, who had the audacity to invade Russia with still hundreds of Pzkw I's on the roster. The Soviets had almost 1,000 T-34's! In light of that, the depth of the German penetration is testimony to grandiosely superior tactics. It's that I'm sure is almost completely absent in arab/muslim armies. It's one of the reasons they've been losing every major engagement since the fall of the Ottoman empire. I don't doubt the personal courage of some. But it hasn't won them any wars.Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-65806483994144885792011-10-25T17:49:08.677-04:002011-10-25T17:49:08.677-04:00Whatever happened to the proud & honorable tra...Whatever happened to the proud & honorable tradition of naming US warships...?<br /><br />Now its just "political graffitti"... in a few years we will have a 'USS Clinton" and "USS Obama" and that just makes me SICK :'(Walker_77noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-91284008601141466822011-10-25T17:45:51.775-04:002011-10-25T17:45:51.775-04:00Fleet = Admiral.
We have "#" Fleets = W...Fleet = Admiral.<br /><br />We have "#" Fleets = We should have "#" Admirals... *DONT_KNOW* <br /><br />Less Admirals, More Warships.Walker_77noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-60244607634739333702011-10-25T17:36:38.832-04:002011-10-25T17:36:38.832-04:00They all paid close attention at the Goebbels Scho...They all paid close attention at the Goebbels School.The Usual Suspectnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-66726210073144913152011-10-25T16:59:07.925-04:002011-10-25T16:59:07.925-04:00Suggest you read "The Heights of Courage"...Suggest you read "The Heights of Courage", by Avi Kahalani. He was in command of 77th Tank Bn of 7th Armored BDE in the Valley of Tears. <br /><br />Some of the IDF veterans I knew were in the Sinai, and one whom I went to a track vehicle maintenance course with (1987, in which an Egyptian Major also attended), had fought at the Chinese Farm. His opinion of Egyptian soldiers and junior commanders was pretty high.UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-21548772786340645652011-10-25T16:39:23.823-04:002011-10-25T16:39:23.823-04:00URR, to the best of my knowledge the Egyptian Army...URR, to the best of my knowledge the Egyptian Army achieved complete surprise in 73 because it was the holy day of holy days for the Jews and Israeli intel was beneath all standards. The Egyptians also seem to have had good AT missiles which took a (relatively) heavy toll on Israeli armour. I suspect that the IDF vets you talk about may have been on the receiving end of those missiles. But the Egyptian hour of glory however lasted, what, one day?<br /><br />Name me one - ONE - campaign in which arab armies were capable of operating properly on even a divisonal level. I suspect it's much the same for the Turkish, Pakistani or Iranian militaries.<br /><br />I'll tell you what. Egypt has probably a couple of hundred Abrams tanks. I'm willing to bet they CAN'T - USE - THEM. I'm sure of it. Oh, they will be able to drive them all right. And fire a gun now and then. But exercising tank tactics on a corps, divisional, brigade, battalion level? I just don't believe it. The basic operational unit in the IDF is the brigade. They don't need more, there's simply no need to operate on a higher level against an enemy who's unable to let two tank companies advance properly along a single track.<br /><br />When I was a 16 year old I took a keen interest in the Iraq/Iran war. From the reports I read, I had the impression that both the Iranian and Iraqi top brass deployed their troops much the same way a 7-year old would arrange his toy soldiers on a battlefield in the living room. Gaddafi had 3,000 tanks (at least that's the number he reportedly bought). Even a substandard western general would have known how to use them against the rebels.Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-72404341230955502252011-10-25T16:39:14.549-04:002011-10-25T16:39:14.549-04:00URR, to the best of my knowledge the Egyptian Army...URR, to the best of my knowledge the Egyptian Army achieved complete surprise in 73 because it was the holy day of holy days for the Jews and Israeli intel was beneath all standards. The Egyptians also seem to have had good AT missiles which took a (relatively) heavy toll on Israeli armour. I suspect that the IDF vets you talk about may have been on the receiving end of those missiles. But the Egyptian hour of glory however lasted, what, one day?<br /><br />Name me one - ONE - campaign in which arab armies were capable of operating properly on even a divisonal level. I suspect it's much the same for the Turkish, Pakistani or Iranian militaries.<br /><br />I'll tell you what. Egypt has probably a couple of hundred Abrams tanks. I'm willing to bet they CAN'T - USE - THEM. I'm sure of it. Oh, they will be able to drive them all right. And fire a gun now and then. But exercising tank tactics on a corps, divisional, brigade, battalion level? I just don't believe it. The basic operational unit in the IDF is the brigade. They don't need more, there's simply no need to operate on a higher level against an enemy who's unable to let two tank companies advance properly along a single track.<br /><br />When I was a 16 year old I took a keen interest in the Iraq/Iran war. From the reports I read, I had the impression that both the Iranian and Iraqi top brass deployed their troops much the same way a 7-year old would arrange his toy soldiers on a battlefield in the living room. Gaddafi had 3,000 tanks (at least that's the number he reportedly bought). Even a substandard western general would have known how to use them against the rebels.Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-82100494156402121942011-10-25T14:42:12.214-04:002011-10-25T14:42:12.214-04:00Outlaw Mike,
"<span>not one of the has...Outlaw Mike,<br /><br />"<span>not one of the has ever given proof of the ability to use them properly"</span><br /><br />I personally know and served with some IDF veterans of the '73 War who would violently disagree with you.UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-3091547444851492222011-10-25T14:34:15.001-04:002011-10-25T14:34:15.001-04:00I think we have some shipmates in prison still for...I think we have some shipmates in prison still for talking smack against Ataturk during a port visit?!MR T's Haircutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-79968124946981147602011-10-25T14:29:48.203-04:002011-10-25T14:29:48.203-04:00The Turks ain't got nothing on us-we name boat...The Turks ain't got nothing on us-we name boata after our crooked politicians!<br />http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_47/FBI-Saw-Dark-Side-of-Rep-John-Murtha-209736-1.html?pos=hftxtJim Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-50119099796719603002011-10-25T14:16:14.901-04:002011-10-25T14:16:14.901-04:00Old grunt, many muslim nations have had, or have, ...Old grunt, many muslim nations have had, or have, sophisticated weaponery. To this date, not one of the has ever given proof of the ability to use them properly. That's because the lack of: imagination, critical thinking, individualism and the ability to think for yourself are basic tenets of islam, as history has proven for more than a milennium.<br /><br />In any armed confrontation between the West and the muslim world, the secular officers of muslim countries would, no matter their private beliefs (or non-beliefs), give their utmost for their country, no matter their aversion for their religious leadership. Compare this to ardent non-nazis who fought as lions for 'Germany', or non-communists who did the same for the USSR.<br /><br />That's why robbing the Turkish military of their secular officers, ergo, their most capable people, is a GOOD development.Outlaw Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-69021181889498986762011-10-25T13:23:23.386-04:002011-10-25T13:23:23.386-04:00Gold star for Juan. For both his comments regardi...Gold star for Juan. For both his comments regarding the assasination of both Ataturk's reputation and that of Jefferson. <br /><br />An effective tactic indeed.UltimaRatioRegisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704146.post-43458057999172395962011-10-25T13:15:06.862-04:002011-10-25T13:15:06.862-04:00Keeping the govt secular was a responsiblity under...Keeping the govt secular was a responsiblity under their constitution. To gain admittance to the EU, they had to delete this un-democratic feature. Law of unintended consequences strikes again.butchnoreply@blogger.com