Today, I had the privilege of accompanying one of my teams--half American/half Aussie--to their work site.
I enjoyed a fun culture shock as the American stoicism that I am used to on convoys gave way to an Aussie wit and playfulness that made that pothole-marked, stale air-infused journey much more enjoyable.
While one soldier played disco through our headsets, another in the turrett would make sure to waft sewages smells down to us so that we could share in her experience of the offending stench.
Once more, I am thankful for our allied friends. A high-ranking Canadian NCO told me the other day that much of their military was humiliated when they didn't join us in the Iraqi conflict. It didn't matter whether or not they agreed with the our involvement, when their "brother" goes off to fight, they feel a moral obligation to join us. Their is similar sentiment amongst the Brits and Aussies.
The closest analogy to this multi-party special relationship is that of brotherhood. When kids, if one brother gets caught up in a fight, his brother will get his back (no matter who is at fault). The bond of blood produces a fierce bond of loyalty.
So does the bond of ideals. Together, our countries for the last several centuries have formed the vanguard for freedom and the value of the human person. Together, these values have drawn us side by side in the trenches cutting through France, across the African desert, up the Italian peninsula, upon the beaches of Europe, back and forth along the 38th parallel in Korea, through the mountain passes of Afghanistan, and within the dust bowl of Iraq (the Canadians did unofficially have 120+ soldiers there which were already attached to American units prior to the conflict). Even when our countries squabble with one another, it is considered a quarrel amongst siblings.
This is especially true with our militaries. Our four countries have stood together for a century now. Our soldiers have fought and died alongside each other--sometimes for each other.
Operation Iraqi Freedom was often criticized as being a "unilateral" engagement by the US. The truth is, we had an impressive coalition of dozens of nations, comprising a "Coalition of the Willing." And the core of that willing coalition were those British, Aussie, and Canadian brothers who have always responded to our call for help, just as we responded to theirs in the two world wars.
May this precious bond of ideals, forged and reinforced with blood, endure for generations to come.
