So as we all know, Gordon Brown decided to go to Iraq earlier this week and it honestly had nothing to do with spin or trying to take the limelight away from the Tory Conference. No, it was a principled move to support the trooops that he has failed, accept he hasn't of course as he will tell you. He also promised that they would be home by Christmas.As we also know he announced that a 1000 troops would be withdrawing from Iraq. This little line was then blasted for the spin it was as it turned out he was reannouncing some troops movements and the real numbers were smaller. Rumour has it that when they "withdraw" many of them will simply move 80 miles down the road to Kuwait instead... not really a withdrawal then.
Of course it's not just the Tories that realised the visit was a piece of spin. The squaddies he went to see did too. Apparently, on Channel 4 News when they showed him meeting and greeting them, two of the grinning quaddies convinced him to sign their tank. What did they ask him too sign it with? "To Cyclops...yours sincerely, Gordon Brown." You can imagine the conversation can't you?
Brown: What should I write?
Squaddie 1: Well, the tank is called Cyclops, can you sign it to Cyclops?
Squaddie 2: Yes, that tank has saved our lives
* Brown signs *
* Squaddies snigger *
* CO shoots a look at them that says "you're dead" *
Update: For those that don't get it. Brown is blind in one eye. i.e. cyclops
Update II: Here's a picture.
11 comments:
Can you please explain the joke to a civilian who simply doesn't get it?
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king...
neither does this one ...
The "joke" apparently refers to the fact that Gordo is blind in one eye. The problem is is that there really is a Cyclops Squadron of the Royal Tank Regiment ...http://www.army.mod.uk/2rtr/2rtr_today/index.htm I wonder whether the squaddies got the joke themselves ....
Unixman 3.00pm
We know we did you patronising twat.
The Basra Tankies
If that is the case why is everyone not getting the point? Why did Dizzy have to explain?
Well done the Basra Tankies!
Thanks Ken
Just because we are "Squaddies" doesn't mean that we do not understand irony, humour or Greek Mythology . As well as the signing wheeze, the one-eyed one with the sweaty handshake asked one of the Lads (Sorry Squaddies) whether he was hot. In Basra, 105 degrees, no shade, hanging around for a photo op for a shirtlifter. "No, came the reply, were fucking freezing Prime Minister."
PM moved on and asked the same question. The listening PM my arse.
But it was nice to put a face to the bastard whose Government gave LBdr Ben Parkinson £150k for the loss of his legs, plus the other multiple injuries but £450k to a Civilian RAF secretary for her thumb. It is heartening to know that our sacrifices defend that way of life.
The Basra Tankies
anonymous 5:18
Why should dizzy have to explain why some complete thickshits don't get an obvious joke?
Bet we're talking about the sort of people who are conned into believing Brown has had nothing to do with the last 10 years of Labour and plan to vote for him again. D'oh
Dizzy
What your photo doesn't show is those minxes of humour, the uniform wearing Armando Iannucci's of the Desert, added UNT after the C.
The man is a nobber which, for those readers of yours who as travis alludes are thickshits,is a term oft used by us educationaly and humour deficient army types. It is best defined thus:
... the military for "nob" deriving from the terms prick, penis, cock, dick or dickhead. Personal insult directed at the candidate for acts of pure nobberism.
The Cyclops....er One
Basra Tank Park
PS. By the way Unixman, we have had a straw poll twixt the Lads and you mostly remind us of the Honorable Lieutenant George Colhurst St. Barleigh of Blackadder fame whose wizzard conversations with Private Baldrick were remarkably similar to your comments. ie Shite.
You would have been awarded the "Nobber of the Week" award but its already sitting on the mantlepiece of 10 Downing Street
Guess who won't be among the remaining 500 to leave Basra in time for Christmas.
Ex-Pat Alfie
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