shiva

**** off.
Just read it.

That do?

mikewot

In essense the arab mentality/mindset/social structure is inherently incapable of providing an effective armed forces. Individual units may be as good as other units around the world but as a combined whole they cannot work together due to the institutionally arabic nature of the whole system.

Bongoman2

Well worth a read. Very interesting article

britexpat76

X 2.

Pretty much sums it up perfectly, same could be said about most government entities in this neck of the woods, the mushroom syndrome.

Boomhauer

Informative article. Quote from the article

Boomhauer

There's the clannish/sectarian factor which makes the Lebanese armed forces ineffective because the various sects that make up the Lebanese army will not want to turn against their own volk , but individual militas like Hezbollah are quite effective because they are under the command of their own sect and as such do not see themselves as turning against their own.

Isn't nepotism rife in the armed forces of the Gulf nations, where the top most senior positions go to members of the ruling families or those from the same clans?

Then there is the issue of Arab rulers hobbling their own armies fearfull that said army might depose them .

scot47

I wonder if the Roman occupiers of Britannia said the same sort of thing ! "This lot are hopeless. They will never amount to anything !"

martinbkk

Didn't the Romans build Hadrians Wall because they found those North of it a slightly different keg of Irn Bru. A trait well used by commanders south of the wall on many occasions.

shiva

You didn't read the article then particularly where it specifically mentioned the roman army

Tockalosh

Regardles of how effective the national servicemen will be, I think it will be good for the nation that everyone feels they have contributed something.

Those nationals who served in the Trucial scouts are now held in high esteem even though they are bobbing on a bit and the same in time will be true of those who do some national service

You only have to speak to the old duffers in England who did their NS to see that their stories grow in direct proportion to the years that have passed.

I have known many NS and most had a very easy time. Some went to Korea which didnt look pleasant however the best story I ever heard (and it was true) was of a work colleague who wanted to do his NS in the catering corps for an easy life and so duly headed off to Aldershot where the training estabishment for slop jockeys was. He hadnt even got on the bus from the train station when he was approached and asked if he wanted to do something more adventurous as he was a big strapping lad and is still a big strapping pensioner now. Being young and foolish he said yes and found himself on a boat to Singapore where he finally got some basic training, got thrown out of various helicopters at RAF Changi and then found himself in the newly reformed SAS for the duration of his NS.

So for all those locals who everyone seems to think will just REMF through their NS, there could be a few who without any previous conviction towards military life actually step up to the mark and may even join the regular forces afterwards and that can only be a good thing

Regarding borders, I am sure I remembering chatting with someone in the trap bar in AD a few years ago who had all sorts of stories of things that went on on and around the Omani border that never officially came to light. Of course I was probably merry but behind every good rumour there is a hint of truth, sometimes...

OleJanx

The Saudis, backed by tacit American approval, wanted a chunk of the Empty Quarter that belonged to the Trucial States and Oman, who were supported by the British, and, if I remember , once got a bit lively over Buraimi/Al Ain.
i remember meeting a British Army bloke who was seconded to the 'Bid-Bid Donkey Regiment' Whether this was its real name or a nick name I don't know, but it made me smile then, and still does...

Tockalosh

Ja I know about the Al Ain incident and the story wasnt about that as the British managed to sort that out before independence.
The story was about sneaky things going on the desserts and mountains after independence however as said I was probably bladdered and eating free pizza. God I miss the trap bar. Hope its still as good and full of weird people as it used to be

Millhouse

Happy memories. Free pizza and fruit bowls for the discerning gentlemen.

Cypselos

Essentially they built it not because the Picts were fightier, but because it wasn't worth the hassle of living up there, but it was worth taking some taxes to send south

Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose...

Tockalosh

What has Scotland given to the World ?

If you think of England, then you think civilisation, law, empire, Rolls Royce, football, Rugby, Brough Superiors etc

When it comes to Scotland, I think deep fried pizza, Irn Bru, tins of shortbread printed with tartan and loud drunks at the bar rattling on about Bannockburn

Surely there must be something else or have I nailed it?