Out of Pod Experience

I understand the fishing there can be spectacular, though fishing permits for tourist are a bit pricy?

Redneck is a derogatory term for poorly-educated, rural simpletons; don't try to make it something it's not. The people saying "it's not an insult" are the ones who embody being poorly-educated, rural simpletons. A$$hole is also a legitimate orifice in the human digestive system, but that doesn't mean it's not an insult to call someone that. Just because you're proud of being a redneck doesn't mean it's a compliment.

Also, the term redneck does not mean cowboy. A cowboy has nothing to do with a redneck. Cowboys are ranchers and cattlemen and are a dying breed, whereas rednecks are abound.

What the FBI did, while they may not actually be rednecks, was something a redneck would do.

This is something many people in nations around the world don't understand. The US is renting these bases from host nations; they're paying billions of dollars PER MONTH to be there. If the Icelandic government wanted the US out of Iceland, they would ask them to leave, as did Saudi Arabia. The US doesn't own any of these bases. These bases are a cash cow for their local and national economies and are required to hire local nationals to work for them as per the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement).

I can see why people may be so angered towards the US because many of these people do not realize that it's a partnership, not an occupation, and they see it as an occupation. Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Japan are strong allies with the US and support US foreign policy for the most part. That said, their hands are not tied in any of this...it's their decision whether or not to keep US forces in their country. All this talk about ""Murica is an empire because they have troops in our country!!!!!1" is, quite simply, uninformed ignorance. American bases are the golden goose for many nations, which is why Poland is begging to host bases right now. In fact, many units in Italy are being shut down because they're just useless and have no strategic importance whatsoever. If people want to be outraged and demand the expulsion of US forces, they should look to their government to do so, but that's never going to happen because EU governments are some of the most corrupt in the world. The entire reason the US is still in NATO is because of their attitude of, "screw funding our own military, we'll just keep US forces in country and let them protect us if something happens." Talk to anyone older than 25 in a country with a US presence and they'll tell you the same thing. If Iceland had ever decided to actually have a military (they have no military whatsoever), I'm sure they wouldn't have asked the US to maintain a presence at Reykjavik (sp?) or Kevlavik during the Cold War, as the former Soviet Union would have LOVED to get their hands on that little volcanic island.

Then you have to look at the source: Scandinavians love to hate America, yet there are zero bases with any American presence anywhere in Scandinavia. Same with France. This leads me to believe all this "die America!" is just a bunch of 15-year-old internet warriors who don't know what they're talking about. The only exemption would be the UK, simply because they can't stand us just because we came from them and dumped a bunch of tea into a harbor. Not kidding. The amount of time they can hold a grudge over nothing is staggering. We wanted to set up an RAF/USAF exchange program at Neadishead, and as I was shooting the breeze with an RAF colonel in Poland at NATO Air Meet in 2003, he told me that it got shot down because some people are still bitter. I smirked and laughed, he chuckled a bit, and then said, "No, really. That's why."

I live in Italy, you idiot. I joined the USAF after high school but grew up on a 2000 acre ranch with over 500 head of cattle and 10 head of horses in Louisiana. I got into team roping and calf roping due to the necessity of having to go rope cattle out in the pasture and doctor them. I competed semi-professionally but gave it up because I wanted to join the military. I've forgotten more about ranching and cowboying than your gun-rack-in-the-pickup-with-the-rebel-flag-in-the-window, I-just-saw-8 Seconds-so-now-Imma-be-a-bull-rider ignorant ass will ever know. You're a Texan, though. It's understandable.

Just to be clear to all my EU friends here, not every place in the US is like that godawful pit called Texas (Austin's cool, though). Don't let this guy skew your opinion of all of us just because he's probably one of those idiots who wanted to secede from the US. He can't help it. He's from Texas.

I think he was talking about me. Still, you're right. Super creepy.

Keflavik had five purposes - To defend any execution of REFORGER, to close the G-I-UK gap to Soviet surface forces, to screen fleet movements in the Atlantic, to serve as a primary long-range North Atlantic airborne ASW hub, and to defend the SOSUS terminal.

Almost all of those purposes are moot now, so Keflavik became moot.

Wikipedia? Did you actually have to look up in a wiki what I said? I'm drawing upon my personal history and experience...but it's obvious YOU had to look it up. I just called you out for being the wannabe you are, and you even closed the deal for me. Um, thanks? You should introduce your foot to your mouth now.

You really are a redneck, that much is clear. And no, it's not a compliment. And no, Texas isn't the only place where hicks come from; it's just the hicks in Texas are the worst.

Astenion's personal history

Seriously, 1st freaking line.....

I've got a backhoe you can borrow when you hit bedrock.