July 30, 2005

A Test for the Royal Dragoon Guards

As any of those of you gentle readers with the perspicacity to read Innana's blog for cultural content would know (at least if you clicked on her links), the U.K. troops in Iraq have been quite creative, most particularly the Royal Dragoon Guards. She has a link to a most amusing video that a number of the RGDs (referred to as "squaddies" I believe) made while bored out of their skulls in Al Faw. Unfortunately, the video quality is quite poor. I have written to the Royal Dragoons requesting a clearer copy:
Dear Sir or Madam (probably Sir, since you are in the U.K. and your army, at least from the video I've seen, appears to be a guys only outfit):
You are probably aware of the "Show Me the Way to Amarillo" video put together by a whole bunch of white guys in your outfit determined to prove, for once and for all, that white man can't dance. Consider the point proven.
However, I must complain: the quality of the video circulating online right now (at least the versions I can find) are of very poor quality. One can't even make out the features of "Lucky Pierre" (aka Staff Sergeant Roger Parr) or determine exactly what the two young men in the porta-potties are actually wearing, if anything. Additionally, would it be possible to obtain a fully credited version of the video? Fans of your unit would really like to know who the various shirtless dudes are, most particularly the young guy in the green towel with a half-shaven face.
To the extent it is beneath your dignity to answer a personal email (although having seen the video, what possibly could be?) feel free to post the information as a comment on my blog: Foilwomansdiary.blogspot.com or the blog of my best friend, lapisforinnana.blogspot.com, who posted the link to the sadly blurry video (we really need a watchable copy to esthetically appreciate it). Any information whatsoever would be greatly appreciated.
Very truly yours (believe me),
Foilwoman

Innana is a bit annoyed with me for bringing her into official correspondence with the squaddies, but I say, hey, they made the darn video stand behind it. The brass apparently does stand behind the video, since the Ministry of Defense's server crashed with people forwarding the video back and forth. Did the perpetrators of this national security disaster get punished? Nope. A spokesperson noted that the computer server was back up, the video was brilliant, and they applauded (or something like that) the various squaddies who put the video together as a morale booster. Here, in the States, we'd have a boring congressional investigation that spent millions of the taxpayers' dollars. Anybody who can find me a clearer copy of the video than the one shown on Innana's website or on this site, please let me know. There might be a reward. And thanks, Innana. As always, superior research skillz produces superior results.

Another thought: will the Squaddies have the time or the inclination to respond to my ever-so-polite request? I could start a pool . . . first whether they respond, and then whether the response is some hyper-polite and formal thingy or something showing the spirit (or whatever you'd call it) of the men who made the video, and how long it will take to receive such a response.

There is a down side to this: If the squaddies can't come up with the goods, I'm afaid I will have to ask the Useless Men to step in. Having seen the squaddies dance, I can only say, it would not be pretty. More news if anything develops.

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