Alea iacta est

Just been reading about the foundation of religious cities such as Antioch in Blainey's "A Short History of the World"...most of it is as boring as batshit.

Unfortunately, I've seen more disturbing photos at the "American War" musuem in Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City).

""Unfortunately, I've seen more disturbing photos at the "American War" musuem in Saigon""

Now, now, That's not a nice thing to say about John Kerry.

Bicket bam! Take that democrats. Yeah, and I couldnt see Al Gore in any of the photos...or Bush Jr.

Trying to be clever?

Properly the names are "George W Bush" and "Albert A Gore Jnr."

George W Bush isn't a "Jnr" since he has a different name to his father. Al Gore is a junior because he has the same name as his father.

Capice?

Yes, but when the public refers to George Herbert Bush, they say Bush Snr. Plus, junior is more patronising for ol' double-ya.

Regardless, I was referring to the fact that some redneck Rublican followers are always quick to point out that Gore didn't see any combat or Kerry's military history is chequered, while they neglect the fact that Bush never even went to 'Nam.

Yours who isn't so literal

Regardless, your point sucks.

And so do you.

I am highly suspicious of the demonising of Franco. I suspect a good deal of it is one of the smear-jobs the left are so good at. Let's not forget Franco saved the world from Hitlerism by refusing to let the Nazi forces cross Spain and take Gibraltar - which must have taken a lot of guts. With Gibraltar, Hitler could have captured the whole Mediterranean, the Middle-East oil-fields, proto-Israel, the Balkans, the Suez canal, etc., etc. The British fleet trapped in the Mediteranean, would gradually have been lost through attrition and lack of fuel, supplies and spare parts - and been unavailable to fight in the Atlantic. Further, Franco tacitly co-operated with the allied "Torch" landings later, and Franco Spain refused - unlike Vichy France - to hand Jews over to the Nazis - indeed Franco diplomats in many parts of Europe helped Jews escape by issuing them Spanish identity documents. Time is overdue for another look at Franco, who was certainly a hard man but, I think, no monster, and, argueably, an ANTI-fascist hero, albeit of an unusual kind.