Swiss troops accidentally invade Liechtenstein

[Manedwolf]

Whoops!   

Swiss troops march into tiny Liechtenstein by mistake
Updated 3/2/2007 10:35 AM ET    

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP)  What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of Swiss soldiers got lost at night and marched into neighboring Liechtenstein.

According to Swiss daily Blick, the 170 infantry soldiers from the neutral country wandered more than a mile across an unmarked border into the tiny principality early Thursday before realizing their mistake and turning back.

A spokesman for the Swiss army confirmed the story, but said that there were unlikely to be any serious repercussions for the mistaken invasion.

"We've spoken to the authorities in Liechtenstein and it's not a problem," Daniel Reist told The Associated Press on Friday.

Officials in Liechtenstein also played down the incident.

Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Amman said nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. "It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something," he said.

Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington, D.C., does not have an army.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

[CAnnoneer]

Those wily Swiss! I knew they wanted an empire!

[RocketMan]

Those darn imperialist Swiss!

[K Frame]

Obviously no one had the version of the knife with the compass on it...

[El Tejon]

Perhaps a company of bank couriers?  Why not just use DHL?

[charby]

other than they funny jokes that could come out this, I find refreshing that both nations are being pretty cool about all of it.

-C

[El Tejon]

That's because there are no THR members in either countries bleating about their Sacred Borders.

Border Guards=>

[Perd Hapley]

other than they funny jokes that could come out this, I find refreshing that both nations are being pretty cool about all of it.

-C

Dude, this is the European Union.  It's not like Israelis crossed over into Syria.  Heck, look what happens when Mexican military are reported to be crossing our border. 

Nothing.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Who here would care if some Canadians accidentally wandered into the US and left as soon as they realized their mistake?  I certainly wouldn't.

[roo_ster]

The Swiss are lucky they didn't transect Liechtenstein completely and end up in Austria.  Then there would have been heck to pay.

"A war so great, even the Swiss are involved!
A war so terrible, the French have already surrendered!"

[CAnnoneer]

"Breaking news! The Swiss telephone system is overwhelmed as the French are trying to surrender individually and pre-emptively! Fly to France and collect your free rifle now, while supplies last!"

"Later in this newscast, the British parliament meets in an emergency session to discuss a peace accord with the belligerent Swiss. The talks are to be held in a neutral location, likely Munich! Peace in Our Time at Any Cost!"

"CNN has fresh footage of Swiss war crimes. Some cheese stacks and French wine bottles might have been violated."

"Nancy Pelosi appears on national TV to demand immediate withdrawal of American troops from the continent."

"The UN votes for economic sanctions against the Swiss, wherein all sales of Swiss chocolate, cheese, and watches is to be directed through UN officials to ensure that the Swiss do not use the proceeds for anything but French wine."

[Iapetus]

This reminds me of an incident a few years ago.

The Spanish government was being particularly obstructive towards Gibralta (putting major restrictions on the movement of people/goods in and out, in defiance of EU rules on such things).

The Royal Navy was on exercises near by, and a squad of Marines "accidently" launched an invasion of a Spanish beach (instead of the Gibraltan beach they were supposed to).  The official explanation was that it was the result  of a "map-reading error", but the concensus amongst the troops themselves was apparently that the officer in command had done it deliberately, in order to get back at the Spanish.

[RevDisk]

Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Amman said nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. "It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something," he said.

Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington, D.C., does not have an army.

Eh, it's the freakin Swiss.  If you see a Swiss soldier anywhere outside the land of great chocolate, you know he made a wrong turn somewhere.  It's not exactly like they have a recent history of hostile intentions.  "Hey, we're neutral and scary!  I dare ya to stick your toe over our border again!"

(Note, do NOT stick toe over border with hostile intend.  It's a crime not to keep your govt supplied assault rifle in your home, with a minimum of 50 rds of ammo.)

[wmenorr67]

See what happens when you give an officer a map and compass.

[roo_ster]

That's why the also issue the officers an NCO and some junior enlisted folks who have been around the block.

Non-mustang butterbars are nearly as funny as newly minted buck privates.

[wmenorr67]

True but most new officers don't learn to listen to their NCO's until something like this happens.

[RevDisk]

That's why the also issue the officers an NCO and some junior enlisted folks who have been around the block.

Non-mustang butterbars are nearly as funny as newly minted buck privates.

If you ever hear an LT say "In my experience..." or a CPT say "I have an great idea...", run screaming.

[grampster]

That's why Swiss cheese has holes in it...just like their border.