As you are all probably aware f there has been a recent investigation into a case of 'friendly fire' in Iraq 2003. A British soldier was killed (Lance Corporal Of Horse Matty Hull of the Household Cavalry). The other day the cockpit video of the attack from a US A-10 which was piloted by Colonel Kohntopp was released.

An ITV news crew went to visit one of Colonel Kohntopp's neighbours/friends; Eldon Anderson.

he said that Colonel Kohntopp was a hero, which maybe true as this was just one incident.

But then Mr Anderson went completely out of proportion in my opinion.

He said "It's a damn good thing we have heroes like him in the United States to do the fighting that we've gotta do against terrorists and around the world and you guys better get on board and that whole damn country of yours along with the rest of Europe you gonna go merrily sucking your thumbs like you did in World War Two."

On the point of us guys getting on bours, the entire point of the news reporter being there is because we are in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that statement was completely unjustified.

The statement about World War Two that was even worse I think he should read a history book or look on the internet and he will learn that Britain was at war for just over two years before America joined in. The rest of Europe who were involved in the war all joined before America did.

The news reporter then asked Mr. Anderson; That war time allies should be more conciliatory (meaning to overcome distrust, to regain friendship)?

Mr. Andersons reply was "We don't need your damn help we need your cooperation thats all we need out of you guys thats and it's hard even to get that. We know you can't shoot, move or communicate but we'd sure as hell like your cooperation anyway."

This was the part I really got angry about The British army is one the best in the world and we have suffered in this war on terror so may I suggest to this gentleman that he gets his facts right.

What a completely misinformed reporter.

Why do you let one uninformed person who can't control his own mouth upset you so much? I'm sure that the British military and the British people are held in high regard by the vast majority of Americans. His statements don't make sense to anyone but himself. Why did the reporter choose him? Maybe just to get the controversial statement that would upset the folks at home? It sounds like e typical news person's tactic. I'm not familiar with the reporter, you tell me.

Let me guess, the man being interviewed was from Kentucky and had about 7 teeth give or take?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGlXfCZTeQI

Shiite!!! I hope none of them ever get into politics. We Korean/Iranians are gunna get a whuppin'.

Ah yes, winning the hearts and minds of our allies one faux pas at a time. A minority opinion he holds I would wager.

It's not his opinion that is worrying, it's his knowledge.

Most Americans do not have a passport.

As a teacher it is my opinion that American classrooms are entirely too text based in their pedagogy and that the textbooks are grossly lacking in data about the world outside the US. Let's not even touch the ethnocentric issues.

From an educational standpoint it is my opinion that the American public education system is responsible for the global myopia that many, but not all, of my fellow citizens suffer from. When I compared what I was taught about the world in history/social studies and what is in the books now the only difference is the level of PC driven drivel dumbing down and vannilizing the information offered. It is steeped in the myths of America, things like the Boston Tea party origins and the US single handedly saving the day in WWII for example.

Conversely my Aussie colleagues were taught virtually all about their own history but have a far greater knowledge about the histories of other countries in Asia and Europe. The textbooks confirm their reports as well.

This sets the stage for people to say the kind of things that this neighbor said. It doesn't excuse it but it might help explain it.

When I compared what I was taught about the world in history/social studies and what is in the books now the only difference is the level of PC driven drivel dumbing down and vannilizing the information offered. It is steeped in the myths of America, things like the Boston Tea party origins and the US single handedly saving the day in WWII for example.

Hey Bulldogg, the books wern't written in Hollywood by any chance were they????