News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

As Ocean Colour Scene once sang, 'there's no profit in peace' for arms manufacturers. For us on the ground, we aren't witnessing benefits at all. I've love to discuss this with Obama in a frank way. He is just a line spinner.

Life / Is Poland a place of high culture? [36]

Football is the most popular sport here and sport is a major part of culture. You can't tell me that Poland won't profit from hosting the forthcoming championships.

Some parts have 'high' culture and some don't. You won't see much of it in the villages, that's for sure.

News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

Ask actual US servicemen who have trained alongside Poles and they will paint quite a different picture.

The Poles have stayed the course and shown their loyalty. What have they got in return?

Life / Is Poland a place of high culture? [36]

Is football a part of Polish culture or not? ;)

Life / Is Poland a place of high culture? [36]

Ever been to a football match here? Calm is not a word I'd use. Nor would I say that high culture enters the equation at all.

Love / Craziness and Polki - these two go together [33]

With some differences ;) ;)

Life / Is Poland a place of high culture? [36]

Gentle bearing?? Some are elegant and some aren't, PP. I think Italy for elegance.

Love / Craziness and Polki - these two go together [33]

I know many that just like to let loose and enjoy themselves. They don't seem to have a temper.

News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

Yeah, I heard they use dumb Polak as slang for Poles. Ever heard of that? Now, can you stay on topic!?

Americans need to appraise their own troops first before pointing the figure at others. 30,000 more troops and what progress has been made? Answer that honestly and we'll see who's really crap.

News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

Pol3, that's a racist remark and I take offence to it as I have friends from Asia. They are as they are and variety is a great thing.

WB is right. You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but it's full of drivel and hatred spewing BS. The US ALLOWED communism or have you never heard of Yalta/Tehran? They needed a future enemy and this need has been a mainstay throughout their approach to wars. At least the Polish army can fight conventional wars without weapons that maim innocent people. Oh, and collateral damage. How many innocent lives have drone attacks and wayward shots taken? (with feckin precision instruments, I might add). You know, given that the Polish army doesn't have access to the newest tech such as those IED mine destruction devices (a favoured weapon of the Taliban), I'd say they were doing fine. They don't fight in such large numbers and that's another point.

Simply put, America is a victim of its own strategies through a lack of forethought.

Life / Is Poland a place of high culture? [36]

I don't think he's too abreast of culture ;) Or he could have been talking about drugs.

As for the arts, Poland produces a lot of snobs. Those that think they are sth when they are just a pile of dung.

News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

Now they have turban donning, scabby boot and old togs wearing bearded dudes doing the same :) You can't criticise their consistency but where's the progress? ;)

Life / Is Poland a place of high culture? [36]

This topic has been covered elsewhere and will lead to the same results. What in God's name is 'high culture'?

News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

At least we have intimate friends, CK :) ;)

The Polish army is ready, provided they get their rations of cabbage, pickles and vodka :)

Check up on the nature of Polish missions and you will see that they have one of the hardest jobs out there.

News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

Ach, the Americans are just using their age-old strategy of deflection. They are focussing attention away from the fact that they are hardly any closer to defeating a group of frail old beardie folk. Let's set up a battle scenario. Polish soldiers Vs American ones. The Polish boys would strike fear into them, I can tell you that much.

The Americans are still stewing over their flawed strategy and McCain has put many to the sword and taken them to task over it. Negotiating with the Taliban, ROTFL. If that isn't an admission of defeat and a slap in the face of normal Afghans, I don't know what is. Get the ANA fully prepped and let them get into key strategic positions. They have local knowledge, speak the local language and are accustomed to rugged terrain. ALL major advantages.

I thought Operation Moshtarak was about telling the soldiers to step up their efforts. Do they really want to win this war or...?

Love / Craziness and Polki - these two go together [33]

I generally don't generalise but that's just in general :) Southern, they are varied but somewhat colder in the main, yes. Crazy? Some are and some aren't

Food / Your single best-liked Wigilia dish? [29]

As above, the little ears with beetroot soup :) Spicy soup, yummy. I loved it in Thailand.

Life / What's up with the trains in Poland (the whole system in complete chaos?) [25]

The government doesn't have the money to fix what? Trains coming on time has nothing to do with money.

Life / How do the Polish feel about air pollution in their cities? [35]

Ask those from Bytom :) They know it but laugh it off. What can they do about it? They profit from industry there so.....

Life / What's up with the trains in Poland (the whole system in complete chaos?) [25]

They are not always late, Zeti. It can be considered somewhat as a problem in terms of certainty not being guaranteed but it isn't entirely chaotic. I think part of the problem is that some Poles feel they can do as they please and then not apologise to anybody for it. It's part of their hard-done-by attitude. The self piteous type so others have to suffer too.

Life / What's up with the trains in Poland (the whole system in complete chaos?) [25]

Scotrail is different from its English counterpart so to speak of a 'British' rail service isn't accurate. The Poles tend to overstate the problems with their trains but I've only once had a problem here and that was due to an unforeseeable technical defect.

Many Poles have told me that their fellow citizens expect too much from life and trains appears to be a part of that.

Food / Bread Baking in Poland [65]

I'm very impressed with the new type of bread I found but, again, it barely lasts a day and then it goes off. What good is that? I'd rather eat bread which doesn't taste quite as good but I know that I can still eat it in a few days time.

Life / Russian Language - is it offensive if I speak it to Polish people? [69]

Precisely, southern. Some great vocal range there.

Life / Russian Language - is it offensive if I speak it to Polish people? [69]

I'm playing music in Russian at the moment and am waiting for pokes from the broomstick downstairs or a rap on the door. Maybe even the police ;) ;) The good old Russian choir :)

USA, Canada / American...Polish Resident...Returning to the land of milk and honey [103]

Oh yes, the old laissez-faire approach to the economy ;)

My wife gave me a ring a year ago so no need for that ;) ;)

Hope you are having fun in the US :)

USA, Canada / American...Polish Resident...Returning to the land of milk and honey [103]

In the land of money? I thought the national debt was in the trillions and that the economy is still floundering/flagging ;) ;) Milk and honey is money in Cockney rhyming slang.

Best of luck, convex. You can see the delights of Gliwice soon if you wish :) Sometime in the new year as the renovation will take another month or so yet.

USA, Canada / Expat Poles swearing allegiance to the US - how did you feel? [157]

The US has that pull on people. They make it a glorious Godsend to be an American and make everything else appear lame by comparison. It's all in the sell! We may dislike what our own countries do in some respects but it should never change our closeness to our roots.

Food / What's the name of these (they look like large fish fingers) [6]

Croquettes (cabbage+mushroom) with red borscht :) :)

Krokiety z kapustą i grzybami i barszcz czerwony :) :)

Life / The most dissapointed with Poland are those who have Polish origins. [35]

I think that the difference needs to be drawn between the food and the food options. America wins hands down. Even in Scotland, we have MUCH more variety that in Poland. Many Pol-Ams may like the food here in winter. It's stodgy and filling. I love eating pierogi here right about now. As for summer, Poland comes up short but there are always salads to be made :)

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

Even my mother-in-law says Poloki :) The key is in the intention and that rarely comes across accurately on a forum. Not to mention the intonation ;)

She liked communism due to the full employment aspect. Yeah, the money wasn't hoped cuisine but certainty spoke for itself. She resents the fact that many graduates here are out of work but welcome to the whole of Europe, maybe bar none. Scotland is prosperous in many areas but still many flounder and forcibly settle for less.