The best line I've read in a while, in a story about a failed coup in Ivory Coast Equatorial Guinea:
"And even considering that Simon Mann had spent most of his adult life obliterating the fine line between profitable military adventures and hare-brained schemes, this was not a well-planned operation."
(h/t Uncle Jimbo)
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I read that story prior to hitting this site and was LOL at you picking up on it. What a great story! The English DO have a way with words and how to turn a phrase, don't they? Which is why I lurk and comment occasionally at Harry's Place--the repartee is priceless.
Is Mr Hemingway British? I'm intrigued. I hadn't given it any thought before, and I tried to look it up when I saw this post, and I can't find mention of it. Where did you find that little fact?
The story about Equatorial Guinea - a former Spanish colony - reminded me of something my Filipina wife said years ago. "I don't know of a former colony of Spain that ever amounted to anything. The culture of corruption is just too ingrained."
I do - Texas, Florida, Arizona, California and New Mexico.
Got news Glen, New Orleans was a former Spanish Colony as well....at least our corruption is creative......
Simon Mann is a hero, IMHO.
Here's the problem.
Mann was not going to free the people. He was going to change the status quo so some company can profit.
I agree that any change is beter than what they have, until the next leader starts killing off his/her/its people.
The whole thing feels like that
"Wiseguy" arc about the coup to destabilize the "Isle Pavot", a kind of Caribbean Haiti/Grenada mix.
One wonders though; Equatorial Guinea is a corrupt brutal oil rich statelet in East Africa; with little chance of change in the future. Wouldn't Simon Mann's crew
backing up Mr. Moto, who of course
the Spanish stiffed; have done some good.