ncr
09-10-06, 02:49 AM
Why does Thailand have all the Luck? (http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/1343)
by Mike Whitney | Oct 4 2006 - 9:43am
About 2 weeks ago, 10 Soviet-era tanks clanked-along the main thoroughfare in downtown Bangkok and stopped in front of the Presidential Palace. Once the palace had been completely surrounded it was stormed by a contingent of fully-armed Thai regulars who secured the grounds while the Thai generals looked on impassively. General Sonthi Tinsulanond took control of the country, with the tacit approval of the King, and quickly repealed the constitution, dismissed the parliament, and forbid any public demonstrations of support for the former regime. In less than an hour, the government of Prime Minister Thanskin Shinawatra was toppled in a perfectly executed, bloodless coup.A-ha. Thanskin ("thinskin" would be more apt!), the Prime Minister who resides in the Presidential Palace, gets ousted by Gen Sonthi Limthongkul-Tinsulanond.
Better check your facts twice before writing a political article about countries halfway around the globe. :D
And what the heck is a "Soviet-era tank"? A Cold War era tank? A Soviet Tank (in Thailand? Heaven forbid!)? As far as I can see those M41 tanks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M41_Walker_Bulldog) would be best described as "Vietnam War era American tanks".
(Yes they are that old. Makes one wonder if they aren't completely obsolete? Oh well, of course still good enough to stage a coup.)
by Mike Whitney | Oct 4 2006 - 9:43am
About 2 weeks ago, 10 Soviet-era tanks clanked-along the main thoroughfare in downtown Bangkok and stopped in front of the Presidential Palace. Once the palace had been completely surrounded it was stormed by a contingent of fully-armed Thai regulars who secured the grounds while the Thai generals looked on impassively. General Sonthi Tinsulanond took control of the country, with the tacit approval of the King, and quickly repealed the constitution, dismissed the parliament, and forbid any public demonstrations of support for the former regime. In less than an hour, the government of Prime Minister Thanskin Shinawatra was toppled in a perfectly executed, bloodless coup.A-ha. Thanskin ("thinskin" would be more apt!), the Prime Minister who resides in the Presidential Palace, gets ousted by Gen Sonthi Limthongkul-Tinsulanond.
Better check your facts twice before writing a political article about countries halfway around the globe. :D
And what the heck is a "Soviet-era tank"? A Cold War era tank? A Soviet Tank (in Thailand? Heaven forbid!)? As far as I can see those M41 tanks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M41_Walker_Bulldog) would be best described as "Vietnam War era American tanks".
(Yes they are that old. Makes one wonder if they aren't completely obsolete? Oh well, of course still good enough to stage a coup.)