Sweden doesn't have an army!

Last week's Sunday NY Times magazine had an interesting
article called "Without A Doubt" about the Bush
Administration and the air of certainty they often have
about things that is rooted in their religious attitudes.

There was mention of a meeting with California Congressman
Tom Lantos (I believe he is the only Holocaust survivor in the
US Congress) and they were discussing the possibility of sending
peacekeeping troops to help with Israel/Palestine and they were
trying to come up with countries that might be good candidates
for troops and Lantos suggested the Scandanavian countries,
Sweden in particular. Bush's response was "Sweden is the neutral
one. They don't have an army." Lantos said that Bush must have thought
he said *Switzerland* and noted that actually they do have a
national defense. Bush persisted, insisting that Sweden has no
army, and the room was quiet until someone changed the subject.
Some weeks later Lantos ran into Bush, who said to him, "You were
right, Sweden does have an army."

God forbid someone should have to ever explain the difference
between Slovakia and Slovenia to him!

"Bill Moore" wrote in message
...
Last week's Sunday NY Times magazine had an interesting
article called "Without A Doubt" about the Bush
Administration and the air of certainty they often have
about things that is rooted in their religious attitudes.

There was mention of a meeting with California Congressman
Tom Lantos (I believe he is the only Holocaust survivor in the
US Congress) and they were discussing the possibility of sending
peacekeeping troops to help with Israel/Palestine and they were
trying to come up with countries that might be good candidates
for troops and Lantos suggested the Scandanavian countries,
Sweden in particular. Bush's response was "Sweden is the neutral
one. They don't have an army." Lantos said that Bush must have thought
he said *Switzerland*

Then Lantos is just as ignorant. Switzerland has a rather
large army for its size. Every able bodied male of
military age is required to undertake annual miltary
training and keep his uniform and rifle at home.

Keith

Keith Willshaw wrote:


"Bill Moore" wrote in message
...
Last week's Sunday NY Times magazine had an interesting
article called "Without A Doubt" about the Bush
Administration and the air of certainty they often have
about things that is rooted in their religious attitudes.

There was mention of a meeting with California Congressman
Tom Lantos (I believe he is the only Holocaust survivor in the
US Congress) and they were discussing the possibility of sending
peacekeeping troops to help with Israel/Palestine and they were
trying to come up with countries that might be good candidates
for troops and Lantos suggested the Scandanavian countries,
Sweden in particular. Bush's response was "Sweden is the neutral
one. They don't have an army." Lantos said that Bush must have thought
he said *Switzerland*

Then Lantos is just as ignorant. Switzerland has a rather
large army for its size. Every able bodied male of
military age is required to undertake annual miltary
training and keep his uniform and rifle at home.

And as to sweden not having an army:
http://www.mil.se/?lang=E
It's even one of the few countries that still develops it's own
aircrafts.


--
Groeten/Regards
Jeroen Wijnands
jeroen at wijnands punt xs4all punt nl

"Jeroen Wijnands" wrote in
message ...
Keith Willshaw wrote:

And as to sweden not having an army:
http://www.mil.se/?lang=E
It's even one of the few countries that still develops it's own
aircrafts.

It's navy also devlops its own warships. They are investing in stealth
technology at the moment I believe.

On 26 Oct 2004 16:26:18 -0600, Bill Moore wrote:

God forbid someone should have to ever explain the difference
between Slovakia and Slovenia to him!

He's probably been informed by the same people that help CNN :

http://www.alpineroads.com/general/switzerland.jpg


--
Tim C.

"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
news:1098870859.flJDHEqkgSP72ApHher9bA@teranews...
On 26 Oct 2004 16:26:18 -0600, Bill Moore wrote:

God forbid someone should have to ever explain the difference
between Slovakia and Slovenia to him!

He's probably been informed by the same people that help CNN :

http://www.alpineroads.com/general/switzerland.jpg


I don't believe that!
Yes I do ...............
(Answer available for Bush when he replies).

Surreyman

"Tim Challenger" schrieb :
He's probably been informed by the same people that help CNN :

http://www.alpineroads.com/general/switzerland.jpg


--
Tim C.

When he gets retired in a few days, who knows, maybe
he wants to visit Prag to have a good look at the alps.

Sascha

In article ,
Keith Willshaw wrote:

"Bill Moore" wrote in message
...
Last week's Sunday NY Times magazine had an interesting
article called "Without A Doubt" about the Bush
Administration and the air of certainty they often have
about things that is rooted in their religious attitudes.

There was mention of a meeting with California Congressman
Tom Lantos (I believe he is the only Holocaust survivor in the
US Congress) and they were discussing the possibility of sending
peacekeeping troops to help with Israel/Palestine and they were
trying to come up with countries that might be good candidates
for troops and Lantos suggested the Scandanavian countries,
Sweden in particular. Bush's response was "Sweden is the neutral
one. They don't have an army." Lantos said that Bush must have thought
he said *Switzerland*

Then Lantos is just as ignorant. Switzerland has a rather
large army for its size. Every able bodied male of
military age is required to undertake annual miltary
training and keep his uniform and rifle at home.

You snipped the part (just after the word "Switzerland") where
Lantos says the it does have a national defense. Lantos is not
ignorant.

In article ,
Mark Hewitt wrote:

"Jeroen Wijnands" wrote in
message ...
Keith Willshaw wrote:

And as to sweden not having an army:
http://www.mil.se/?lang=E
It's even one of the few countries that still develops it's own
aircrafts.

It's navy also devlops its own warships. They are investing in stealth
technology at the moment I believe.

Yes. The point really is that the president of the US couldn't
distinguish Sweden from Switzerland.

"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
news:1098870859.flJDHEqkgSP72ApHher9bA@teranews.. .
On 26 Oct 2004 16:26:18 -0600, Bill Moore wrote:

God forbid someone should have to ever explain the difference
between Slovakia and Slovenia to him!

He's probably been informed by the same people that help CNN :

http://www.alpineroads.com/general/switzerland.jpg

It was just filling in while Austria was vacationing.