They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- General Abrams uses irony to describe the constant pressure of enemy fire during combat.
- In plain terms
- The enemy is always surrounding us, which is bad for the soldiers.
- What can you take from it?
- Irony can highlight the absurdity of war.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does soldiers manage constant danger?
- What role does humor play in war?
Another view
The term 'bastards' refers to the soldiers facing the situation which is blunt and informal.
More from Creighton Abrams
Give a soldier an anvil, just a hunk of metal, and drive him out into the desert and leave him. In two weeks - when you go to get him, the anvil will be broken.
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