| | #21 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas
Posts: 2,136
| Quote:
In 1943 the Swiss guards at the door of St. Peter's Basilica put away the "traditional" pikes and broke out heavy machine guns. The pope ordered them to "use all means" to prevent Italian Fascist from seizing Jews that had hidden within the church. German troops stopped the Italians before they could confront the Swiss. German leadership was afraid that a direct assault upon the Vatican and the Swiss Guard would broaden the war to include Switzerland, and cause rebellion among German Catholics. This coming from the idiots that invaded Russian with plans of victory by Christmas. Name another nation (besides possibly Israel) that requires every male citizen to keep, maintain and practice with REAL assault weapons. Every male serves in the military in active duty and continues to serve as a reservist until age 34. Men that gain an exemption from service due to medical issues pay an extra 3% in income tax for the REST OF THEIR LIFE. The Swiss can’t PROJECT power throughout the world like the US or England, but confronting them on their home turf would be very messy.
__________________ Liberty is for those that claim it. | |
| | |
| | #22 |
| Senior Member ![]() Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Posts: 12,906
|
Nobody wanted to wage war on the Swiss, because both sides were using the Swiss banks. Switzerland maintained nuetrality by providing a necessary service that war would have disrupted. Simple economics. They have a long history of providing mercenary services to other nations too. Also, fighting them in their mountainous homeland would take beacoup resources, from more necessary efforts. It could be done, but the cost would be very high. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did Osama make that quote before or after we kicked his people out of Afganistan and freed that nation?
__________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield Last edited by Big Dog; 06-07-2005 at 09:07 AM. |
| | |
| | #23 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: MOOOOOOOOOOO land also known as Wisconsin
Posts: 1,105
|
I do believe he did....... Swiss Neutrality is a interesting thing. Often its for as Big Dog said economic reasons. There willingness to engage in banking with the devil himself along with there mountanious terrain and ofcourse there military preparedness usually means that for most would be conquers its more trouble than its worth to invade the Swiss.
__________________ Taint nuthin a 12 gauge wont solve |
| | |
| | #24 |
| Senior Member ![]() Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky
Posts: 9,104
|
dog hit it!!!! its the money, convienent place to store ill gotten gains. :lucky:
__________________ if it wasn't for the luck of the Irish, i'd have none at t'all. :lucky: |
| | |
| | #25 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NORWAY
Posts: 501
| Quote:
And this thread is let to go on, while when I started one about a f***ing POLL it was ripped off the wall right away??! What kind of f***ing mods are running this board?! COME ON!!! Last edited by Kompressor; 09-13-2008 at 10:45 PM. | |
| | |
| | #26 |
| Senior Member ![]() | No offense, but until you revived it, the last post was made in 2005-long before we started having all of the political flame wars on G&G. I agree that the atmosphere has gotten much more P.C. as of late and IMO, it's detracted from what made this place so great-polite discourse...
__________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac! |
| | |
| | #27 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NORWAY
Posts: 501
| Quote:
Uups! You're right! Didn't even look at the date. ![]() -Let's hope nobody follows up on this then... Note to self: Don't sit up at 4 in the morning writing on internet boards. Go hunting! (I'm out the door in five, actually!) | |
| | |
| | #28 | |
| Young Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 2,655
| Quote:
HAHAHA! Too funny! ![]() It is Ok, I did the same thing on one of the "Savage forum" posts.
__________________ I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me. ![]() NRA MEMBER | |
| | |
| | #29 |
| Senior Member ![]() Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,319
| Switzerland has no standing Army. It's soldiers are more like a Militia, taking their weapons home with them but being at the ready. I seriously doubt they could must anything more than a token defense of their country.
__________________ I live to hunt and hunt to live. |
| | |
| | #30 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa"
Posts: 4,102
| Quote:
Switzerland actually does have a volunteer standing army and their national service type Army. They can mobilise more troops in 24 hours than most countries can that have large standing armies. Yes, their soldiers all take their weapons (and ammunition) home with them but also have to train with them regularly. They remain in the Militia until aged 50, & older in many cases. Their mountain tunnels are used as improvised hangers for their air force and their motorways double as airfields. For any of you have ever been there, never wondered why the motorway lighting was in the kerb? You will also find Swiss Soldiers in Afghanistan, standing side by side with all your other allies. It can be interesting seeing unknowing tourists staring at the guy waiting for the bus with a machine gun or assault rifle over his shoulder as he heads off for some target practice! Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 1,852,580 females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.) Not bad for a small Neutral country. Last edited by wunhunglo; 09-14-2008 at 08:00 AM. | |
| | |
| | #31 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NORWAY
Posts: 501
| Quote: Beeing "available" and having an auto-rifle and ammo in the bedroom closet doesn't make an army. Training is very important, and even the essential factor more than anything. We too have a lot of men with gear, uniform, gun and ammo at home. But very few of them get the training they would need to operate. A lot of small units have very limited capability, and are dedicated to a special task like keeping power supplies, vital production businesses, town halls etc secure in a situation where the nation may or may not be mobilised. For this type of purpose they might do well, but we are not talking about a protection force to keep off another invading army. The grade of training varies, but they've all been through a 12 (+/-) months mandatory military service. Out of 100.000 men with issued guns and equipement, about 60.000 get training only every second year (1 week). Then 30.000 get training every year (1 week) and keep a higher level of readiness. Then we are about 10.000 who get 20-30 days or more of annual training to be the "sharp end" of our "National Guard", and we have the best of equipement and instructors ready for us every time we practise. These 10.000 do get pretty good pay for each day we train. We've had to qualify to be part of this force, and there is a fair amount of selection before anyone can join, with intervues, background checks, physical tests + every one needs to be cleared for "NATO Secret" security level. I'm part of these 10.000, and we are organised in regional forces so we pratice not far from where we live. Pictures from training: http://www.grebe.no/aug07.htm http://www.grebe.no/album_0507.htm http://www.grebe.no/album_02.htm http://www.grebe.no/unhcr.htm Just about every man above the age of 20 get military training in my country. Although there are some changes with that now, unfortunately. We will likely see a more "profesional" military force in the years to come, but in my opinion a very small one. Last edited by Kompressor; 09-14-2008 at 08:45 AM. |
| | |
| | #32 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa"
Posts: 4,102
|
I was really disappointed after I joined the Army. They made me sign our "Official Secrets Act" (many duplicate copies) and then, you'll never believe this, I don't think in all the time I was in, they never once told me a secret! |
| | |
| | #33 |
| Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: rural, farm
Posts: 145
|
... scary stuff. I read the interview....
|
| | |
| | #34 |
| Moderator ![]() ![]() |
__________________ |
| | |
| | #35 | |
| Moderator ![]() ![]() | Quote:
and dont like whiners.
__________________ | |
| | |