You see this is exactly how the script went in Vietnam, sending in "non combatant advisors" Only it didn't turn out that way.

Now we see an increase with a further 300 "advisors" sent to Iraq.

Tell you what Tony, do our troops a favour, bring them all back. Our presence in Iraq won't make an ounce of difference to the major sh.tfight that is taking place in the middle east.

Don't make the same mistake that we made in Vietnam. I previously held a different point of view but looking at the international stage and what ISIS is doing, I can only see this turning out badly for our boys.

When the guy who cooks your dinner or cuts your hair, is likely to be the one who cuts your throat in the middle of the night, then you as a solider are between a rock and a hard place.

Let's get them the hell out of there!!!!!!

red baron wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 5:46pm:

Let's get them the hell out of there.

Yep, why risk troops when you could use nuclear weapons.

Tony Abbott's just watched the movie '300'. He reckons if the wretched greeks can do it the Aussies should be able with one hand tied behind their back.

Svengali wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 5:58pm:

Tony Abbott's just watched the movie '300'. He reckons if the wretched greeks can do it the Aussies should be able with one hand tied behind their back.

Last time I saw that movie, 300 were wiped out.

But.....as I have said a zillion times before.....we have no place in Arabia.  That is for the Arabs and they have been having shite fights over it for a gazillion years.

We can have our little piss on some grains of the Sahara sand, and nothing will change.

Aussie wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 6:57pm:

Svengali wrote on Apr 14th, 2015 at 5:58pm: Tony Abbott's just watched the movie '300'. He reckons if the wretched greeks can do it the Aussies should be able with one hand tied behind their back. Last time I saw that movie, 300 were wiped out. But.....as I have said a zillion times before.....we have no place in Arabia.  That is for the Arabs and they have been having shite fights over it for a gazillion years. We can have our little piss on some grains of the Sahara sand, and nothing will change.

I disagree with aussie in the most part as the west, maybe not much Australia has an interest due to oil.

Also remembering the lessons of the past, if you allow a terrorist to own their own country they have the resources to cause greater chaos in the world and even threaten world peace. Appeasement Hitler did not stop his intent. So we need to react to contain what could be a very big problem in the future. Remember these guys want to take to whole world into their domain and convert everyone to their style of Islam and all to follow their laws forcing the world back into the middle ages.

It is an ideology that must be stopped. It is in all our interests for it to be stopped before it gets too big to handle. Imagine such a regime with atomic bombs and a modern military capability with sleeper cells in every country.

Yeah.....imagine.

Aussie wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 6:57pm:

But.....as I have said a zillion times before.....we have no place in Arabia.  That is for the Arabs and they have been having shite fights over it for a gazillion years.

If we left it to the arabs to sort out the whole middle east would be an ISIS caliphate by this time next week.   

In 2003 a huge majority of the world understood and they told Bush, Blair and Howard; "Don't go to war in Iraq, its a big mistake. We will be bogged down there for decades,  and we will create a breeding ground for fanatics and terrorism, the likes of which we have never seen before". But  Bush, Blair and Howard wanted their war and fabricated a pretext for war (just as Hitler used to do - check your history, he used the same kind of tricks). They lied about the existence of WMD and now, over a decade later what a mess. Muslim fanatics are more unified all over the world from Yemen, to Indonesia to Nigeria to Europe, spreading there terrorism and terrorists attacks at will.

I say MAKE THE WAR CRIMINALS PAY.  BUSH, BLAIR AND HOWARD AND THEIR STRING PULLERS WHO PUT THEM UP TO IT. FOR WE ARE ALL PAYING THE PRICE OF THEIR LIES ABOUT WMDs

red baron wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 5:46pm:

You see this is exactly how the script went in Vietnam, sending in "non combatant advisors" Only it didn't turn out that way. Now we see an increase with a further 300 "advisors" sent to Iraq. Tell you what Tony, do our troops a favour, bring them all back. Our presence in Iraq won't make an ounce of difference to the major sh.tfight that is taking place in the middle east. Don't make the same mistake that we made in Vietnam. I previously held a different point of view but looking at the international stage and what ISIS is doing, I can only see this turning out badly for our boys. When the guy who cooks your dinner or cuts your hair, is likely to be the one who cuts your throat in the middle of the night, then you as a solider are between a rock and a hard place. Let's get them the hell out of there!!!!!!

First the advisors, then some air to give them support on the ground, then some protection for the air assets, then a major commitment of ground troops when that proves insufficient, then the adoption of an aggressive policy of patrolling etc to create a defence in depth and protect the larger perimeter... and so it goes...

Ends up in multi-division sweeps and pitched battles when the locals can't control their own fight....

Cordon it all off, declare it a free fire zone to start on xxth Veeblezwep, and then bomb it flat....

Always amazed me that Uncle Sam would send troops into them hills to find the NVA so the bombers could flatten the valley they were in... why not flatten it first and send in the troops to pick up the pieces?  Why recon to pinpoint them when you're going to flatten the joint anyway?

red baron wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 5:46pm:

You see this is exactly how the script went in Vietnam, sending in "non combatant advisors" Only it didn't turn out that way. Now we see an increase with a further 300 "advisors" sent to Iraq. Tell you what Tony, do our troops a favour, bring them all back. Our presence in Iraq won't make an ounce of difference to the major sh.tfight that is taking place in the middle east. Don't make the same mistake that we made in Vietnam. I previously held a different point of view but looking at the international stage and what ISIS is doing, I can only see this turning out badly for our boys. When the guy who cooks your dinner or cuts your hair, is likely to be the one who cuts your throat in the middle of the night, then you as a solider are between a rock and a hard place.

Except you won't be sleeping with that man and he won't be able to infiltrate your FOB in the middle of the night because rest of the unit helping to guard it and you from harm...   ::)


Quote:

Let's get them the hell out of there!!!!!!

Yes.  I agree.  Their job is to defend Australia and Iraq is no where near us.

Get 'em over there before the whole ANZAC 100th birthday thing and it'll be a media bonanza on the big day.

I bet you the media are getting flown over with the troops - with the tax payer picking up the tab.

The glorious freedom loving Iraqis have asked for Australias help in order to keep the fascists at bay and the Australian left have been left wondering why on Earth would you want to keep fascists at bay?, whats wrong with fascists?  :D

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 8:45pm:

In 2003 a huge majority of the world understood and they told Bush, Blair and Howard; "Don't go to war in Iraq, its a big mistake. We will be bogged down there for decades,  and we will create a breeding ground for fanatics and terrorism, the likes of which we have never seen before". But  Bush, Blair and Howard wanted their war and fabricated a pretext for war (just as Hitler used to do - check your history, he used the same kind of tricks). They lied about the existence of WMD and now, over a decade later what a mess. Muslim fanatics are more unified all over the world from Yemen, to Indonesia to Nigeria to Europe, spreading there terrorism and terrorists attacks at will. I say MAKE THE WAR CRIMINALS PAY.  BUSH, BLAIR AND HOWARD AND THEIR STRING PULLERS WHO PUT THEM UP TO IT. FOR WE ARE ALL PAYING THE PRICE OF THEIR LIES ABOUT WMDs

WHAT HE SAID!!!!

Saddam knew what to do -

there was law and order when he was there.

Bobby. wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 7:24am:

Saddam knew what to do - there was law and order when he was there.

Yes...his laws, and his orders.... :D

Just like our Ochlocracy here today.  ;D 

Swagman wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 8:18am:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 15th, 2015 at 7:24am: Saddam knew what to do - there was law and order when he was there. Yes...his laws, and his orders.... :D Just like our Ochlocracy here today.  ;D

Who should make the decisions Swag. You don't want a democracy to decide and you don't want a dictator. So whose left. Who do you want to make the decisions?

Bobby. wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 7:24am:

Saddam knew what to do - there was law and order when he was there.

Bobby...please tell me you're seriously joking.

Grappler Deep State Feller wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 9:06pm:

red baron wrote on Apr 14th, 2015 at 5:46pm: You see this is exactly how the script went in Vietnam, sending in "non combatant advisors" Only it didn't turn out that way. Now we see an increase with a further 300 "advisors" sent to Iraq. Tell you what Tony, do our troops a favour, bring them all back. Our presence in Iraq won't make an ounce of difference to the major sh.tfight that is taking place in the middle east. Don't make the same mistake that we made in Vietnam. I previously held a different point of view but looking at the international stage and what ISIS is doing, I can only see this turning out badly for our boys. When the guy who cooks your dinner or cuts your hair, is likely to be the one who cuts your throat in the middle of the night, then you as a solider are between a rock and a hard place. Let's get them the hell out of there!!!!!! First the advisors, then some air to give them support on the ground, then some protection for the air assets, then a major commitment of ground troops when that proves insufficient, then the adoption of an aggressive policy of patrolling etc to create a defence in depth and protect the larger perimeter... and so it goes... Ends up in multi-division sweeps and pitched battles when the locals can't control their own fight.... Cordon it all off, declare it a free fire zone to start on xxth Veeblezwep, and then bomb it flat.... Always amazed me that Uncle Sam would send troops into them hills to find the NVA so the bombers could flatten the valley they were in... why not flatten it first and send in the troops to pick up the pieces?  Why recon to pinpoint them when you're going to flatten the joint anyway?

Hubby and I keep asking the same questions. He reckons the Cold War, Russia, potential ramifications...yadda yadda yadda...got in the way.

( NB we're both modern and ancient history minded in our household...all our kids are too )

Would be nice if we had a History forum around here. You 2 would be excellent Mods.

Just a thought....

red baron wrote on Apr 14^th, 2015 at 5:46pm:

You see this is exactly how the script went in Vietnam, sending in "non combatant advisors" Only it didn't turn out that way. Now we see an increase with a further 300 "advisors" sent to Iraq. Tell you what Tony, do our troops a favour, bring them all back. Our presence in Iraq won't make an ounce of difference to the major sh.tfight that is taking place in the middle east. Don't make the same mistake that we made in Vietnam. I previously held a different point of view but looking at the international stage and what ISIS is doing, I can only see this turning out badly for our boys. When the guy who cooks your dinner or cuts your hair, is likely to be the one who cuts your throat in the middle of the night, then you as a solider are between a rock and a hard place. Let's get them the hell out of there!!!!!!

They say history repeats. We should let ISIS have free reign for a while longer. What could go wrong?

I hear what you're saying Freediver. This one is a bloody hard one. Do you really think we could stamp out ISIS in the Middle East?

This is a religion and its gathering pace. But what is being chucked at them is a token effort at best.

Training the Iraqi soldiers to resist ISI is laughable. When ISIS turns up, the Iraqis will drop their weapons and turn like rabbits. No amount of training is going to turn those useless articles into soldiers, to start with they need ticker, an element missing from the Iraqi Army.

If I felt that our soldiers would make a difference I could be swayed, but just like training the South Vietnamese Army it is destined to failure, why put our boys lives on the line for that result? All those Aussie lives lost in South Vietnam and for what? For nothing..the Commies won. I served in that conflict and I remember the history of it only too well.

Indeed they did, but freediver wants not to heed that history lesson.

I watched an interview with an Iraqi commander that was fighting ISIS a few weeks ago and he basically said that the US could get rid of these ISIS clowns in a week if they wanted to.

The muslim is not really interested in fighting, they are not really interested in much at all, they just like to sit around and pray, commit the odd atrocity and rape women, they are certainly no viet cong, the real answer to pacifying the middle east is to introduce centrelinks on every street corner and pass out free hashish for all.

red baron wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 4:04pm:

I hear what you're saying Freediver. This one is a bloody hard one. Do you really think we could stamp out ISIS in the Middle East?

Perhaps.  Tends to hang on the question of how much blood you can tolerate being on your hands.


Quote:

This is a religion and its gathering pace. But what is being chucked at them is a token effort at best. Training the Iraqi soldiers to resist ISI is laughable. When ISIS turns up, the Iraqis will drop their weapons and turn like rabbits. No amount of training is going to turn those useless articles into soldiers, to start with they need ticker, an element missing from the Iraqi Army.

Except for the units which retook Mosul the other day.  Forgotten their efforts?  Then you have the Kurds, with their units which took Tikrit.   Loads of hard slogging in both battles - as bad as Stalingrad, I've read.


Quote:

If I felt that our soldiers would make a difference I could be swayed, but just like training the South Vietnamese Army it is destined to failure, why put our boys lives on the line for that result? All those Aussie lives lost in South Vietnam and for what? For nothing..the Commies won. I served in that conflict and I remember the history of it only too well.

Vietnam was a failure.  No reason why Iraq has to be.  The problem in both cases is getting the locals to care sufficiently to support the government.  As long as the West keeps it's soldiers out of the battle and just supports the Iraqis, the better off they'll be at beating ISIS.    ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D

ISIS are a bunch of highly motivated idiots. Motivation will only take you so far. I concede that the Iraqi army lacks even motivation, but they are still getting the job done, along with a few Kurdish and Iranian militias.

We learnt the lesson of Vietnam. That's how we managed to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan relatively unscathed. If we had to, we could wipe the lot of them out in a few days. You can't hide in the desert like you can in a jungle. But I am happy to let other Muslims take care of it if it gives everyone warm and fuzzies. It is time for the Iraqis to own their democracy.

freediver wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 5:32pm:

ISIS are a bunch of highly motivated idiots. Motivation will only take you so far. I concede that the Iraqi army lacks even motivation, but they are still getting the job done, along with a few Kurdish and Iranian militias. We learnt the lesson of Vietnam. That's how we managed to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan relatively unscathed. If we had to, we could wipe the lot of them out in a few days. You can't hide in the desert like you can in a jungle. But I am happy to let other Muslims take care of it if it gives everyone warm and fuzzies. It is time for the Iraqis to own their democracy.

So.....all that wiffle waffle to say .......  Arabia for the Arabs.

We could always declare terra nullis. No sign of intelligent life. But that would be racist.

The jungle is not the desert Red

freediver wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 5:47pm:

We could always declare terra nullis. No sign of intelligent life. But that would be racist.

We could also keep our nose out of the business of other people in their Country, especially Arabia where they have been beating the shite out of each other for centuries.

Lisa Jones wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 9:10am:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 15th, 2015 at 7:24am: Saddam knew what to do - there was law and order when he was there. Bobby...please tell me you're seriously joking.

I'm serious - there were no terrorists in Iraq when Saddam was in power.

( except him )

Swagman wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 8:18am:

Bobby. wrote on Apr 15th, 2015 at 7:24am: Saddam knew what to do - there was law and order when he was there. Yes...his laws, and his orders.... :D Just like our Ochlocracy here today.  ;D

That's right Saddam's laws.     ;D

Yes Aquascoot, indeed the desert is not the jungle. However, the problem is, that foreign forces use local labour at their military bases. This has gone on since the day dot. It is one way of "giving the locals a feel good halo of being included in the alliance".

And therein lies the conundrum, like 'two face' out of Batman. Who is the good guy and who is the possible suicide bomber on the inside of the fence line.

You only have to be wrong once and a suicide bomber could easily take out half the Australian contingent if it got near the the mess hall at the right time.

You're right, there is the big difference between Nam and Iraq. In Nam, people generally weren't blowing themselves to kingdom come.

red baron wrote on Apr 16^th, 2015 at 6:13pm:

Yes Aquascoot, indeed the desert is not the jungle. However, the problem is, that foreign forces use local labour at their military bases. This has gone on since the day dot. It is one way of "giving the locals a feel good halo of being included in the alliance". And therein lies the conundrum, like 'two face' out of Batman. Who is the good guy and who is the possible suicide bomber on the inside of the fence line. You only have to be wrong once and a suicide bomber could easily take out half the Australian contingent if it got near the the mess hall at the right time. You're right, there is the big difference between Nam and Iraq. In Nam, people generally weren't blowing themselves to kingdom come.

That's total BS. Local labor is used because its cheap and its there.

Mr R. Baron.....I reckon this is a fair question to ask of ye. It does not involve the release of personal information of the kind the Rules refer to (and even if it did...you are free to say what you like about yourself) as it will not lead to an ID of you.....but.......you have posted that you have a history as a Police Officer and more recently that you are a Vietnam Veteran.  Lots of blokes make false claims about their past, especially of a military kind.

I went nowhere near Vietnam.......thanks to a mere happenstance that I was born on the 2nd of the deadly month, and not the 1st or the 3rd.....and if I had.....I'd have been a Vietnam Veteran, or a Vietnam statistic.

You sound a tad fake to me.  I can post 'Vietnam'......you seem unable to do so....preferring the so called in house ~ 'Nam.'  That 'jars' or grates with me.......'try hard' like.

Care to tell us exactly what was your involvement in Vietnam?

Aussie I did two tours of duty at Ubon Thailand with the R.A.A.F. where a third of the air strikes on Vietnam were launched. I was in airfield defence and we regularly did patrols of the Thai Laos border to stop Pathet Laos forces from infiltrating across the border and launching mortar strikes against the airfield. My mustering was Airfield Defence Guards.

The Aussies had a squadron of sabre jets which the Yanks called Mickey Mouse airlines. The Yanks used Phantom fighter bombers to take 500 pound bombs to Vietnam.

I have active service medals for my duty there.

Following six years with the R.A.A.F. I left to work with Ansett Airlines for 7 years until, unfortunately a whole bunch of us got the axe thanks to a crooked union which was in bed with management.

I ended up at the NSW Police Force where I went on to serve for 18 years until a Hurt On Duty injury put paid to my career. Hope that answers your questions.

Svengali, of course labor is cheap and plentiful; but never doubt that there is a political angle to employing them.

What I'm getting at knucklehead is that the local labor in Iraq is likely to blow themselves up and a whole heap of Government and allies with them.

red baron wrote on Apr 16^th, 2015 at 7:11pm:

What I'm getting at knucklehead is that the local labor in Iraq is likely to blow themselves up and a whole heap of Government and allies with them.

They're explosive claims Red.

red baron wrote on Apr 16^th, 2015 at 7:04pm:

Aussie I did two tours of duty at Ubon Thailand with the R.A.A.F. where a third of the air strikes on Vietnam were launched. I was in airfield defence and we regularly did patrols of the Thai Laos border to stop Pathet Laos forces from infiltrating across the border and launching mortar strikes against the airfield. My mustering was Airfield Defence Guards. The Aussies had a squadron of sabre jets which the Yanks called Mickey Mouse airlines. The Yanks used Phantom fighter bombers to take 500 pound bombs to Vietnam. I have active service medals for my duty there. Following six years with the R.A.A.F. I left to work with Ansett Airlines for 7 years until, unfortunately a whole bunch of us got the axe thanks to a crooked union which was in bed with management. I ended up at the NSW Police Force where I went on to serve for 18 years until a Hurt On Duty injury put paid to my career. Hope that answers your questions.

Sounds legit to me, even though Ubon seems a long way from Vietnam.  Hardly makes you any more 'expert' on Vietnam than I am, however.

red baron wrote on Apr 16^th, 2015 at 6:13pm:

Yes Aquascoot, indeed the desert is not the jungle. However, the problem is, that foreign forces use local labour at their military bases. This has gone on since the day dot. It is one way of "giving the locals a feel good halo of being included in the alliance". And therein lies the conundrum, like 'two face' out of Batman. Who is the good guy and who is the possible suicide bomber on the inside of the fence line. You only have to be wrong once and a suicide bomber could easily take out half the Australian contingent if it got near the the mess hall at the right time. You're right, there is the big difference between Nam and Iraq. In Nam, people generally weren't blowing themselves to kingdom come.

Except the ADF does not employ locals for any position other than interpreter, RB.   Nowadays, neither do the yanks.  They bring in subcontractors from other nations to cook their food, cut their hair, etc.   ::)

Aussie wrote on Apr 16^th, 2015 at 7:30pm:

red baron wrote on Apr 16th, 2015 at 7:04pm: Aussie I did two tours of duty at Ubon Thailand with the R.A.A.F. where a third of the air strikes on Vietnam were launched. I was in airfield defence and we regularly did patrols of the Thai Laos border to stop Pathet Laos forces from infiltrating across the border and launching mortar strikes against the airfield. My mustering was Airfield Defence Guards. The Aussies had a squadron of sabre jets which the Yanks called Mickey Mouse airlines. The Yanks used Phantom fighter bombers to take 500 pound bombs to Vietnam. I have active service medals for my duty there. Following six years with the R.A.A.F. I left to work with Ansett Airlines for 7 years until, unfortunately a whole bunch of us got the axe thanks to a crooked union which was in bed with management. I ended up at the NSW Police Force where I went on to serve for 18 years until a Hurt On Duty injury put paid to my career. Hope that answers your questions. Sounds legit to me, even though Ubon seems a long way from Vietnam.  Hardly makes you any more 'expert' on Vietnam than I am, however.

Egg on your face eh......gobshite!

http://s25.postimg.org/t9phasge7/image.jpg

Aussie I have a right to my spin on Vietnam as does every poster who visits this site. My opinion may not be right but it is my opinion and I'm entitled to it and to air it.

Aussie wrote on Apr 15^th, 2015 at 6:05pm:

freediver wrote on Apr 15th, 2015 at 5:47pm: We could always declare terra nullis. No sign of intelligent life. But that would be racist. We could also keep our nose out of the business of other people in their Country, especially Arabia where they have been beating the shite out of each other for centuries.

Aussie have you ever noticed how one country's problem can quickly become another country's problems?

Aussie wrote on Apr 16^th, 2015 at 7:30pm:

red baron wrote on Apr 16th, 2015 at 7:04pm: Aussie I did two tours of duty at Ubon Thailand with the R.A.A.F. where a third of the air strikes on Vietnam were launched. I was in airfield defence and we regularly did patrols of the Thai Laos border to stop Pathet Laos forces from infiltrating across the border and launching mortar strikes against the airfield. My mustering was Airfield Defence Guards. The Aussies had a squadron of sabre jets which the Yanks called Mickey Mouse airlines. The Yanks used Phantom fighter bombers to take 500 pound bombs to Vietnam. I have active service medals for my duty there. Following six years with the R.A.A.F. I left to work with Ansett Airlines for 7 years until, unfortunately a whole bunch of us got the axe thanks to a crooked union which was in bed with management. I ended up at the NSW Police Force where I went on to serve for 18 years until a Hurt On Duty injury put paid to my career. Hope that answers your questions. Sounds legit to me, even though Ubon seems a long way from Vietnam.  Hardly makes you any more 'expert' on Vietnam than I am, however.

Yeah it does.

red baron wrote on Apr 17^th, 2015 at 8:29am:

Aussie I have a right to my spin on Vietnam as does every poster who visits this site. My opinion may not be right but it is my opinion and I'm entitled to it and to air it.

Indeed and I'll defend your right to say it, Baron, even if you are wrong...   ::)

Noneofyourbusiness wrote on May 9^th, 2015 at 11:41am:

Aussie wrote on Apr 16th, 2015 at 7:30pm: red baron wrote on Apr 16th, 2015 at 7:04pm: Aussie I did two tours of duty at Ubon Thailand with the R.A.A.F. where a third of the air strikes on Vietnam were launched. I was in airfield defence and we regularly did patrols of the Thai Laos border to stop Pathet Laos forces from infiltrating across the border and launching mortar strikes against the airfield. My mustering was Airfield Defence Guards. The Aussies had a squadron of sabre jets which the Yanks called Mickey Mouse airlines. The Yanks used Phantom fighter bombers to take 500 pound bombs to Vietnam. I have active service medals for my duty there. Following six years with the R.A.A.F. I left to work with Ansett Airlines for 7 years until, unfortunately a whole bunch of us got the axe thanks to a crooked union which was in bed with management. I ended up at the NSW Police Force where I went on to serve for 18 years until a Hurt On Duty injury put paid to my career. Hope that answers your questions. Sounds legit to me, even though Ubon seems a long way from Vietnam.  Hardly makes you any more 'expert' on Vietnam than I am, however. Yeah it does.

Except, as noted by Baron himself, he never served in Vietnam...   ::)

Brian Ross wrote on May 10^th, 2015 at 1:14pm:

Noneofyourbusiness wrote on May 9th, 2015 at 11:41am: Aussie wrote on Apr 16th, 2015 at 7:30pm: red baron wrote on Apr 16th, 2015 at 7:04pm: Aussie I did two tours of duty at Ubon Thailand with the R.A.A.F. where a third of the air strikes on Vietnam were launched. I was in airfield defence and we regularly did patrols of the Thai Laos border to stop Pathet Laos forces from infiltrating across the border and launching mortar strikes against the airfield. My mustering was Airfield Defence Guards. The Aussies had a squadron of sabre jets which the Yanks called Mickey Mouse airlines. The Yanks used Phantom fighter bombers to take 500 pound bombs to Vietnam. I have active service medals for my duty there. Following six years with the R.A.A.F. I left to work with Ansett Airlines for 7 years until, unfortunately a whole bunch of us got the axe thanks to a crooked union which was in bed with management. I ended up at the NSW Police Force where I went on to serve for 18 years until a Hurt On Duty injury put paid to my career. Hope that answers your questions. Sounds legit to me, even though Ubon seems a long way from Vietnam.  Hardly makes you any more 'expert' on Vietnam than I am, however. Yeah it does. Except, as noted by Baron himself, he never served in Vietnam...   ::)

Im pretty he never stated that and I was referring to the post made by Aussie which has nothing to do with what you stated.

It isn't that hard to keep track of this, even for a dumb grunt, pogo or what ever you did to fill in time in the green machine.