And to set the record straight....

Quote:

"Thus, even though the NATO deployment inAfghanistan comes under a UN mandate and even though Austria previously contributed troops there, opponents gain traction by arguing that Austrian participation (beyond a few staffofficers in ISAF HQ) would be a violation of neutrality. The same argument was used against deploying troops to Chad for the purely humanitarian purpose of protecting refugee camps on the border with Sudan."

Quote:

"The third potential ministerial-level player inforeign policy, holdover Defense Minister Darabos, is also seen as uninterested in foreign and international security affairs and is openly hostile to deploying Austrian troops on dangerous missions abroad (e.g., to Afghanistan)."

Rebuttal:

Taking the last statement first.... why the FUCK should Austrians send their young troops to Afghanistan to fight? Or be in the most dangerous place in the world? Oh yeah, the Germans do it, but are still sort of occupied. Pressure?) What in the world purpose would that serve?

As to the first quote: oh wow, selective memory. In Austria.... beginning at eighteen, every male has to serve in the military beginning from age 18. If you are a conscientious objector, you get slapped into civil service, serving as medics on ambulances or other social service sectors. And as 'punishment' the 'CO's' get a longer time in service than in the military. Which is just background, here...

But as long as I have been here.... the military has been with UN troops for humanitarian purposes on the Golan heights, Corfu, several places in Africa, and Bosnia, and Montenegro, and I have known and spoken with many of them and know them from many families.

And since we only have 8 million people as opposed to 80 million in Germany... And they aren't wusses, but serve within the confines of treaties, which the US love to break and forget. I think the government would get itchy about spreading themselves too thin.

So I can't 'know' why they didn't send help to Chad/Somalia. Am just trying to use some common sense, and if it was under Bush... well, they didn't like him at all. Might have been a mix.

And as far as being insular goes.... which is not in the quotes but in the document. The author is clueless. And I am not being an apologist. From the Hungarian revolution on, where 'Murka really fucked up and betrayed them, to today.... Austria has been very good on taking in refugees, for a very long time. And it seemed, every five or six years, we got a new wave, and people bitched, but opened their hearts, and tried to give them a helping hand.

They only get really belligerent when the people they take in do not try to integrate, if only a little, but if they do, then they are wonderful and kind. Most people are not good to the Africans right now, although I've met some who feel halfway comfortable. Great at launguages... but the race thing clouds some people's perspectives. But they are generally good people, and just need a hand up.

Those are are most recent. The ones who rubbed ME the wrong way were the Poles. One came down for a day to look for a job and bitched about it, complained they only had 5 Euros a day spending money, and who spit at me and said we were shit. And I said, 'Well, you have a roof over your head, three meals a day, so if you feel we are so awful, GO BACK TO YOUR DICTATORSHIP. Or do something constructive. We ALL have to work.'

He shut up.

Hey, it was my tax money as well...

That cable really showed me some sort of selfishness, and the 'attitude'. 'We have the power, and you're shit and do as we say.'

I've run into these 'types'. So superior and know basically nothing about where the hell they are.

I had one of them drop a suitcase on my head in a train once.... and glare at me as if it were MY fault. And didn't apologise, because he was probably trying to remember his lawyer's telephone number.

Too fucking weak to get it on the overhead rack.

And if that is what they try to do to other countries.... well, maybe thanks to Dumbya, they aren't playing along right now....