Austro-Italian border, 24 January 2003
Two Austrian soldiers were freezing in cold Alpine night. It was their turn for night border watch. This asigment is not very popular among soldiers. Catching death of cold somewhere in the mountains is not great motivation for young man. Current mission of border patrols in this area: Observation of Italian positions. Two young men were watching terrain on other side of border trough scopes of their Steyr AUG assault rifles.
''Nothing interesting to see,'' said one of them. ''Those damn Syndies are probably all digged in their heated cafetarias. Drinking, smoking and playing cards. Maybe they have even some girls there. Italians realy know how to enjoy life. They wouldn't even notice if we attacked them. Thanks to God, we aren't in war yet. But there will be a war one day.''
Other soldier responded: ''Shut up, do you wish to storm their positions right now?'' They may be comforted and lazy, but they know how to shoot. I don't think our Austrian discipline will help us if we freeze alive here. They don't have their hands glued to frozen metal as we have.''
Giant lightened signs on few Italian buildings were sending political messages to Austrians. Some of them were sending boring political propaganda such as ''Red flag will triumph'', ''Glory to Syndicalist Federal Republic of Sicilies'', ''Reactionaries, beware!'', ''Austria, jail of nations'', and similar stuff. But some of them were very provocative: ''Would you like some hot cappuccino, sir?'' Sentences like this had great psychological effect on freezing soldiers.
Border patrols were waiting on their positions until morning when new units, ready for regular daily watch replaced them.
Two Austrian soldiers were freezing in cold Alpine night. It was their turn for night border watch. This asigment is not very popular among soldiers. Catching death of cold somewhere in the mountains is not great motivation for young man. Current mission of border patrols in this area: Observation of Italian positions. Two young men were watching terrain on other side of border trough scopes of their Steyr AUG assault rifles.
''Nothing interesting to see,'' said one of them. ''Those damn Syndies are probably all digged in their heated cafetarias. Drinking, smoking and playing cards. Maybe they have even some girls there. Italians realy know how to enjoy life. They wouldn't even notice if we attacked them. Thanks to God, we aren't in war yet. But there will be a war one day.''
Other soldier responded: ''Shut up, do you wish to storm their positions right now?'' They may be comforted and lazy, but they know how to shoot. I don't think our Austrian discipline will help us if we freeze alive here. They don't have their hands glued to frozen metal as we have.''
Giant lightened signs on few Italian buildings were sending political messages to Austrians. Some of them were sending boring political propaganda such as ''Red flag will triumph'', ''Glory to Syndicalist Federal Republic of Sicilies'', ''Reactionaries, beware!'', ''Austria, jail of nations'', and similar stuff. But some of them were very provocative: ''Would you like some hot cappuccino, sir?'' Sentences like this had great psychological effect on freezing soldiers.
Border patrols were waiting on their positions until morning when new units, ready for regular daily watch replaced them.