WW1 was supposed to end all wars. We have had dozens since, invaded nations that did not even raise a voice at us and been partly responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people.

Until we stop jumping into these absurd wars we have to cancel Anzac day and stop pretending our soldiers are the greatest things since sliced bread.

They join up to kill people.

When we bleat out 'lest we forget" it is because we have forgotten, just at the moment it is particularly stupid because we are bogged down in two useless wars and supporting Israel in two more.

Bronwyn wrote:

Thanks for your explanation. It does at least provide a noble reason for a less than noble action. I can only assume that Turkey was totally unco-operative and that invasion was the last and only recourse for the Allies.

Dear Bronwyn,

The Turks were non-cooperative with any move to help Russia because they were in the war on the side of Germany and historically had opposed Russia. Turkey had been pulled into the war by Germany.

Abdülhamid viewed the German Empire as a possible friend of the Turkish Empire. Kaiser Wilhelm II was twice hosted by Abdülhamid in Istanbul; first on October 21, 1889, and nine years later, on October 5, 1898 (Wilhelm II later visited Istanbul for a third time, on October 15, 1917, as a guest of Mehmed V). German officers (like Baron von der Goltz and von Ditfurth) were employed to oversee the reorganization of the Ottoman army. German government officials were brought in to reorganize the Ottoman government's finances. Although Turkey was an ally of Germany many in the government wanted Turkey to remain neutral in WW1.

On 4 August 1914 German armies crossed the Belgian border on the way to France. Turkey remained neutral, but its armed forces were to an extent under German command. A Turkish flotilla including two German warships cruised the Black Sea. On 29 October, 1914 the flotilla suddenly bombarded the Russian ports of Odessa, Sevastopol and Theodosia. That was an act of war, and Turkey was now at war with the Allied Powers. Without the German presence in the Turkish armed forces Turkey might have remained neutral as it did in World War 2.

On 25 April, 1915 Australians together with other Allied troops landed at Gallipoli. In that same month the Turks started to deport and massacre the Armenians. The landing at Gallipoli may have been one of the factors which led Turkey to commit genocide.

ONE. (TWO might be delayed by post limit.)

Ginx,
"My term "British" refers to the nation state( which Bronwyn understood).............Many British people,.....are ignorant of the huge sacrifice Australians made in Britain's defence in both World Wars.......Are you British by the way?"
Posted by mac, Friday, 25 April 2008 11:48:02 AM
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'Your term' British refers to the 'nation state'? And who in the hell do you think goes to make that?
How cowardly of you mac to hide behind the excuse so conveniently handed to you by another poster! And how typical of one who can do that,-to refer to the lack of courage of others;-others who faced the kind of hell you and I will never know.

Huff and puff? That from a tactical expert who sits at a computer in the comfort of home, and passes judgment on matters you have not experienced and clearly know little about. Yes. You are an expert on huff and puff!

How sad that there are those on this thread who use their intellect and analytical skills to dissect the merits of this day, espousing a negative view of those who HAVE seen hell, and march publicly on this ONE DAY per YEAR!

And You? You seek to use THEIR day to your own ends. It was an unnecessary conflict. NO ONE should have been maimed or killed. The British sustained massive losses; AS WELL. Or is that of no consequence?

I am not English/I/S/W.My father fought in WW11. I will use HIS experience in warfare as a yardstick, NOT your silly armchair theories.

NOW;- I asked you a question, and predictably, you did not answer it.

DO YOU BELIEVE BRITISH TROUPS DELIBERATELY LET THEIR ANZAC COMRADES DIE?

Is that clear enough?

I'm asking you if you believe that British troups were cowards?
_______________________________________

Brian Holden

It is people like you who are most damaging at this moment with Islamofascism taking root even among our own university academics. The Griffith University Vice-Chancellor has even been caught plagiarising from Wikipedia to push a pro-Wahhabist agenda because Griffith's new Islamist Centre is being funded by the terror-financiers Saudi government!

http://culturewarriorwatch.blogspot.com/2008/04/queenslands-professors-of-terror-or.html

Oh!Yes , cancel ANZAC Day, replace it with Mr Rudd's friends flying the Red Flag-or- The Crescent. Do away with the old democratic Australia. But what will you replace us with, Communism or Islamism.
Ism's don't work, just look at their homelands.
Stupid ,stupid cringing, apologetic lefties.When will they ever learn?

I am glad to see that the young ones are able to go and honour the soldiers who gave their lives without really knowing what they were fighting for. In theory it could be said that most of Australia who do acknowledge their sacrifice and wish to remember are both endorsing the fighting men themselves and the course of which they were fighting. In tradition, it could still be said that it was a good thing fighting for Britain, however I disagree with this. I feel no connection whatsoever with that country therefore I find it puzzling and hard to understand how fighting for the British Empire and Australia can be considered possible at the same time. Australia has never tried too hard to create a culture and identity of its own, it has mainly being thrust upon by the changing of times and Britain's reduced role in the world which was of course shown in our relations in later World War II, from thereon we essentially were forced to be independant. I have a lot of trouble being proud of a past that was largely about being loyal to a different country to the one I was born and raised in. The ANZAC tradition I guess will become more and more a indication of the cost of war rather than a endorsement of what they were fighting for, to me this is the only way it can properly survive, because I am not British nor am I loyal to Britain nor am I loyal to their Queen.