The General C. Krulak Thread XVI

[brontebilly]

While I don't have a problem with referring to CK as General-I would never call someone 'My Lord' or 'Your Majesty' as I  could not be persuaded to either. I would also support anyone's right to state they hold no regard for someone who has served his country in military service. They do not ask for our approval as individuals and cannot expect it automatically.

probably sums up what I was trying to say. The man himself has said he isnt that bothered so perhaps the easily offended brigade can take a deep breath. Dont think I'm denigrating those who have fought for their country's interests abroad. Certainly a bit of a leap there. The majority these days have a choice in the matter though, I have family members as have many of this forum that didnt. Anyway maybe that is the end of it.

See what I dont get about the whole Milner/Ireland plus cash deal is that it could not have been signed and sealed if Milner lined out against West Ham. If it was signed and sealed then both players registration would have been transferred which it obviously wasnt. The deal it seems was about to be signed and sealed before Ireland tried to get more money off City which he was perfectly entitled to. Once MON left though surely the whole deal should have been pulled. If the club needed the cash then fair enough Milner could have been sold but imposing a new signed player on a club without a manager was bad business imo.

[Caiphus]

Signed and sealed "subject to" I believe is the term.

[Fergal]

Mr. Krulak, Question - though it has possibly been asked before.

Who approved the signing of Stephen Ireland? MON may have supported the Milner/Ireland deal but it was completed after he left. Hindsight is a wonderful
thing but buying players without having a manager on board is stupid in the extreme.

Its General not MR

It has been explained before as well

The US Army doesnt have any authority over me anyway. Mr Krulak is a board member who gives of his time to answer fans on a forum fair enough. I applaud him for that but I'm not going to genuflect before a general in the US army at the same time.

If you're going to insult someone, at least get your facts right. It's Marines, not army.

I'm not insulting anyone you clown but your PC sensibilities. Whatever happened to the right to an opinion. It is a side issue but I for one am not overly impressed by a career in a force that had caused global instability for many years. Even taking politics out of it do you not think as fans we should question our boards decisions or even motives. If Randy Lerner pulled out in the morning Villa would be in a Pompey situation. Why was Houllier not signed up till after the transfer window closed for example? I asked a question about a serious board fuck up. The board as is their right do not have to answer it but signing Ireland will cost the club 3m minimum when we flog him.

As with the rest of you I'm happy by and large with Lerner to date but his experiences with the Cleveland Browns and those of owners elsewhere mean that we as supporters should always be cautious and questioning. How exposed is Mr Lerner to the huge debt crisis in Europe for example. Some of you guys seem overjoyed to have your stomach tickled by board members. A bit of debate about the future of the club wouldn't go astray at times.

Is it me or are you a clown? Respect costs nothing, the world would be a far better place if we were to show each other a bit more respect.

[ckrulak]

General krulak here:

1.  Kipeye:  I confess that your comment probably cut deeper than any comment I have read on this site since the day I arrived!!  The fact that someone has the "right to state that they hold no regard for someone who has served his country in the military service" ...You need to understand that the "right" to make that statement was EARNED by the Blood, Sweat and Tears of those who DID serve and CONTINUE to serve their Country!!!  Do you truly believe that your comment would be allowed to be made IF Germany had won WW II or that Russia had won the Cold War.  You might want to read a bit of your own history to discover that if it were not for some very brave fighter pilots and soldiers and sailors, our world might have been quite a bit different.  Yes, people do have the "right" that you mentioned but, by damn, you best understand that the same people who served their Country GAVE THEM THAT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!

2.  brontebilly:  Do you really think that I am not telling you the truth??I have given you the answer...very clearly.  The fact that you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't fact!

[PaulTheVillan]

Relax.

[andrew08]

You are right General, and I have family that served in those conflicts to protect the right of free speech.

They will be spinning in there graves right now at the forced apologies made by the those two Tory guys expressing honest held opinons this past week or so. People can make their own minds up at the ballot box and vote em out if they want to. Or just bloody ignore them. Drives me mad.

I'd emigrate if I wouldn't miss the Villa so much.


Oh and back on topic. We'll be fine. Most people trust Randy and his team and appreciate the difference from 4 years ago in all aspects (other than the kit issue I guess)

[dave.woodhall]

If I inadvertently offend someone, the least I can do is apologise and ensure I don't offend them again. That's basic common courtesy, nothing more, and some of us should bear it in mind.

[eamonn]

Relax.

I think the General handled that pretty well to be honest.

[kipeye]

General krulak here:

1.  Kipeye:  I confess that your comment probably cut deeper than any comment I have read on this site since the day I arrived!!  The fact that someone has the "right to state that they hold no regard for someone who has served his country in the military service" ...You need to understand that the "right" to make that statement was EARNED by the Blood, Sweat and Tears of those who DID serve and CONTINUE to serve their Country!!!  Do you truly believe that your comment would be allowed to be made IF Germany had won WW II or that Russia had won the Cold War.  You might want to read a bit of your own history to discover that if it were not for some very brave fighter pilots and soldiers and sailors, our world might have been quite a bit different.  Yes, people do have the "right" that you mentioned but, by damn, you best understand that the same people who served their Country GAVE THEM THAT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!

2.  brontebilly:  Do you really think that I am not telling you the truth??I have given you the answer...very clearly.  The fact that you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't fact!

I'm afraid that's just what you don't get General. You won no right for me, there was very little choice about the second world war, if anything it was about self preservation. Even then you cannot say that we had to fight Germany, or in your case Japan. There were lots of alternatives, perhaps unpalatable but may have meant millions of lives were saved and maybe even meant that the gains would have still been made another way. Anything is possible.
I have certainly read my history and it tells me that often in the long term, the victors end up the losers and vice versa.
Secondly, can you categorically say all the wars and conflict since then have been to protect my rights? No-one asks me if we should have an army at all but if I suggest differently am immediately rounded upon with the usual arguments (which I hope we won't start now). And General I have met many people who have fought in numerous wars including Vietnam and many would also express many more doubts than me.
Democracy usually means the minority ruling the majority and although it may be a system most would vote for and many would die for, it is far from perfect.
Expressing a contrary view should not be seen as betraying the people who fought in wars it should be seen as entirely necessary to ensure we do not engage in them lightly.

[GullyFoyle]

Mr. Krulak, Question - though it has possibly been asked before.

Who approved the signing of Stephen Ireland? MON may have supported the Milner/Ireland deal but it was completed after he left. Hindsight is a wonderful
thing but buying players without having a manager on board is stupid in the extreme.

Its General not MR

It has been explained before as well

The US Army doesnt have any authority over me anyway. Mr Krulak is a board member who gives of his time to answer fans on a forum fair enough. I applaud him for that but I'm not going to genuflect before a general in the US army at the same time.

If you're going to insult someone, at least get your facts right. It's Marines, not army.

I'm not insulting anyone you clown

Do you not regard calling someone a clown insulting?

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  kipeye: I am at a loss to even begin to fathom your argument.  Let me see, if we hadn't fought Germany or Japan, it "may have meant millions of lives were saved."  Like those Jews, Gypsies, mentally and physically handicapped who perished by the millions at the hands of the Nazis would have been "saved"...or that the "rape of Nanking" would not have taken place.  Obviously not every conflict since WW II has been fought to preserve your right to speak freely but I did not say that did I?  As many know, I have had my doubts about the second Gulf War and what is happening now in Afghanistan...but that is not the issue and not what your initial statement conveyed.  My point is simple:  You can have a go at the National Policy and at the Politicians who set that policy but to have a go at the young men and women who carry out that policy is something you should think long and hard about before you do so. 

[hipkiss92]

General krulak here:

1.  Kipeye:  I confess that your comment probably cut deeper than any comment I have read on this site since the day I arrived!!  The fact that someone has the "right to state that they hold no regard for someone who has served his country in the military service" ...You need to understand that the "right" to make that statement was EARNED by the Blood, Sweat and Tears of those who DID serve and CONTINUE to serve their Country!!!  Do you truly believe that your comment would be allowed to be made IF Germany had won WW II or that Russia had won the Cold War.  You might want to read a bit of your own history to discover that if it were not for some very brave fighter pilots and soldiers and sailors, our world might have been quite a bit different.  Yes, people do have the "right" that you mentioned but, by damn, you best understand that the same people who served their Country GAVE THEM THAT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!

2.  brontebilly:  Do you really think that I am not telling you the truth??I have given you the answer...very clearly.  The fact that you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't fact!

I'm afraid that's just what you don't get General. You won no right for me, there was very little choice about the second world war, if anything it was about self preservation. Even then you cannot say that we had to fight Germany, or in your case Japan. There were lots of alternatives, perhaps unpalatable but may have meant millions of lives were saved and maybe even meant that the gains would have still been made another way. Anything is possible.

You've contradicted yourself with those two statements.

We would have gone to war eventually with Germany, in fact we cold have gone to war much earlier if we'd listened to some of the war-mongerers in Parliament at the time.

And if we hadn't we would have saved lives, but what about the millions more who would have died in concentration camps if the Nazi regime continued?

[kipeye]

Like I said General-the usual arguments. I hope we can move on now as I doubt we need to say more.

[PaulTheVillan]

Relax.

I think the General handled that pretty well to be honest.

I agree, now we can all chill out.

[Ad@m]

Like I said General-the usual arguments. I hope we can move on now as I doubt we need to say more.

The words of someone who realises they've screwed up and is attempting to save face.

An apology would've been more appropriate.