Manuel Ferreira
30-03-2008, 13:22
Sunday Independent 30 March 2008
Nice try, MK Ronnie, but alas, no (Cuban) cigar
March 30, 2008 Edition 1
Ronnie Kasrils' touching tribute to the Cuban, Russia, Angolan and even MK combatants in the Cuito Cuanavale battle brought tears to my eyes. Tears of mirth.
I think we must settle for the likelihood that determining a winner in this battle will always be a contentious affair.
But, after 20 years, I notice that history revisions are in place and being propagated assidiously by the Communist propagandist.
All of a sudden, we are hearing of the involvement of MK "soldiers" in Cuito Cuanavale. I am sure that in another 20 years we will find that MK were in fact running the show, with the Soviet Union, Cuba and Fapla as mere observers, learning how to fight a real war.
This yearning by the ANC and the SACP for any kind of military credential is rather pathetic and sad, and it is also pitiful how Kasrils so coyly neglects to give the full roll of honour for the battle, mentioning only Cuban and Fapla losses, daintily detouring around the minimal SADF losses incurred.
For the record, the losses from both sides were:
Cuban/Fapla killed: 4 785; SADF: killed 31
Cuban/Fapla light armour destroyed: +200; SADF light armour destroyed: 11
Cuban /Fapla tanks destroyed: 94; SADF tanks destroyed: 3
Cuban/Fapla fighter jets destroyed: 9; SADF fighter jets destroyed: 1
This embarrassing imbalance is probably why the ANC refuses to include the SADF losses in the Wall of Remembrance. After all, it would only require one brick in the wall to inscribe them.
Nice try, Ronnie. Try telling it to General Arnaldo Oshoa Sanchez, the Cuban commander who was executed by his own people after the battle, and the myriad Cuban, Fapla and Russian dead.
But don't despair Ronnie; I understand that if you repeat a lie often enough it will change magically into the truth.
Mike McWilliams
Bramley
Nice try, MK Ronnie, but alas, no (Cuban) cigar
March 30, 2008 Edition 1
Ronnie Kasrils' touching tribute to the Cuban, Russia, Angolan and even MK combatants in the Cuito Cuanavale battle brought tears to my eyes. Tears of mirth.
I think we must settle for the likelihood that determining a winner in this battle will always be a contentious affair.
But, after 20 years, I notice that history revisions are in place and being propagated assidiously by the Communist propagandist.
All of a sudden, we are hearing of the involvement of MK "soldiers" in Cuito Cuanavale. I am sure that in another 20 years we will find that MK were in fact running the show, with the Soviet Union, Cuba and Fapla as mere observers, learning how to fight a real war.
This yearning by the ANC and the SACP for any kind of military credential is rather pathetic and sad, and it is also pitiful how Kasrils so coyly neglects to give the full roll of honour for the battle, mentioning only Cuban and Fapla losses, daintily detouring around the minimal SADF losses incurred.
For the record, the losses from both sides were:
Cuban/Fapla killed: 4 785; SADF: killed 31
Cuban/Fapla light armour destroyed: +200; SADF light armour destroyed: 11
Cuban /Fapla tanks destroyed: 94; SADF tanks destroyed: 3
Cuban/Fapla fighter jets destroyed: 9; SADF fighter jets destroyed: 1
This embarrassing imbalance is probably why the ANC refuses to include the SADF losses in the Wall of Remembrance. After all, it would only require one brick in the wall to inscribe them.
Nice try, Ronnie. Try telling it to General Arnaldo Oshoa Sanchez, the Cuban commander who was executed by his own people after the battle, and the myriad Cuban, Fapla and Russian dead.
But don't despair Ronnie; I understand that if you repeat a lie often enough it will change magically into the truth.
Mike McWilliams
Bramley