Replying to LO29991 --
Dear At,
Thank you for your contribution, it was very interesting.
At wrote
I wanted to draw similarities between the what&why about to happen in Iraq
with the British-Boer War (1899-1902) and the what&why which happened then
in South Africa. Now it is about oil involving both Britain and the US,
but in those days it was about gold and diamonds involving only Britain.
However, I would like to draw your attention to one point. Whilst the Boer
War only involved Britain, Australia was also involved in the Boer War as
it is in the current war in Iraq. May I refer you to the following
website, http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/boer.htm which states in part:
"As part of the British Empire, the Australian colonies offered troops for
the war in South Africa. At least 12,000 Australians served in contingents
raised by the six colonies or (from 1901) by the new Australian
Commonwealth (about a third of men enlisting twice), and many more joined
British or South African colonial units in South Africa. At least 600
Australians died in the war, about half from disease and half in action.
Australians served mostly in mounted units formed in each colony, often
known as "mounted rifles", "bushmen" or "imperial bushmen". They fought in
both the British counter-offensive of 1900 which resulted in the capture
of the Boer capitals, and in the long, weary guerrilla phases of the war
lasting until 1902. Colonial troops were valued for their ability to
"shoot and ride", and they performed well in the open war on the veldt.
Australians at home generally supported the war, but as it dragged on
became disenchanted, especially as they became aware of its effects on
Boer civilians, through cases such as the conviction and execution of
Lieutenants Morant and Handcock in 1902".
I make no comment on the current crisis only to highlight the fact that
Australia responded to England's call to arms and we were not even a
sovereign nation at the time. We became one in 1901. Whilst we are a small
nation with a population of about 20 million, we help our friends when
they need it. All I wish to say that our ties with the USA and England go
back a very long time. Whether or not, Australia should be involved in the
War, is best left to our Government to decide. However, Australia is are
ready to support all Humanitarian efforts as soon as possible. Our nation
is small in number but our hearts are not.
At you are right about the link of gold and diamonds in respect to the
Boer War. Whilst many have argued that oil is the main issue in the
current war in Iraq, I believe the issues are far more complex and
complicated than what has been purported by some writers. Some issues go
back centuries whilst some are related to current personalities who have
great positional power but lack "inner power". Time will tell as to what
the real issues are. I only hope that we can learn from those issues
arising from all wars including the Boer War.
Thank you and may we find peace soon.
Cheers
Glebe Stcherbina
AM de Lange wrote:
> I wanted to draw similarities between the what&why about to happen in Iraq
> with the British-Boer War (1899-1902) and the what&why which happened then
> in South Africa. Now it is about oil involving both Britain and the US,
> but in those days it was about gold and diamonds involving only Britain.
>
> However, i have managed to find a far better and much older case which
> was about beaver pelts, involving France, Britain, Holland and the US. It
> is Part III of the
> Hau De No Sau Nee Address to the Western World, Geneva, 1977
> namely
> "Policies of Oppression in the Name of Democracy
> -- Economic History of the Hau De No Sau Nee"
> It can be found at
> < http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/6nations3.html#part3 >
--Glebe Stcherbina <gstc3416@mail.usyd.edu.au>
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