Chuckie1970 wrote:
Aid workers and journos know the risk as well.
Being aware of a risk is one thing, but few people are really fully prepared for the reality of any situation until they are acutally there.
I understand the important role of an aid worker. They are extremely brave people. And we need them
But Tessie lets be honest here, you can't tell me that an aid worker really isn't prepared for the reality of the situation. Then they must have stars in their eyes. If they think they will be safe then they are dreaming.
I myself have looked at doing aid work in africa and know that my personal safety would be in jeopardy.
As for contractors in Iraq ... believe me its for the money. Nothing noble....money talks.
Chuckie1970 wrote:
But Tessie lets be honest here, you can't tell me that an aid worker really isn't prepared for the reality of the situation. Then they must have stars in their eyes. If they think they will be safe then they are dreaming.
Yes, I can honestly tell you that many aid workers are not really prepared.
Of course they realise that it isn't 'safe', but many are certainly not prepared for what they find.
Would I be right in thinking that this sort of hostage taking is almost a "shop window" for the group in question?
By this I mean it is an opportunity for the evil git in question to say, "I am the most extreme and the most brutal, and I will get results, if you want to give anyone money or recruits I am going to give you the best value".
This mixture of media savvy and medieval brutality is quite horrifying but it shows that they know what gets results.
A times reporter today said that even local insurgent leaders are unhappy with Ken Bigley's captors actions.
Those of us who were against the war from the start have been proved right. Blair and Bush have opened up Pandora's Box, the bottom line is no muslim will ever accept occupation by foreigners whether its Iraq or wherever. These sorts of atrocites are going to continue whatever happens now. God only knows how its going to end. Yet Bush and co insist freedom and democracy is on the way. I dont whether to laugh or cry.
Lets have a face-saving election in January and then bring our troops home, theres nothing more that the UK can do for Iraq now.
Sticky Blue wrote: I'm giving all of this and asking nothing in return, I'm going to be welcomed with open arms because I'm helping the people, not the state or the Americans.
Why would anyone take someone who's crime is to want to help?
I suppose that the contractors see themselves as being targets (they have bodyguards etc with them) but Aid workers and Females!
Aid workers are brillant I am not saying anything to discredit them (even though it seems like it)
And I don't know why people kidnap them ... all I can say is that the fanatics are selfish, driven and have no respect for life.
But if we leave now, before the reconstruction is complete and with a fair and effective government in place, it will be the heads of the innocent that will be played polo with.*
The insurgents will piece together the fragments of the old regime, and when we return for Gulf War Three in ten years time, there will be a few hundred thousand bodies more in mass graves to be found...
Firstly Iraq was always gonna be trouble, as it's in the people who hate us back yards & gives them easy access to kill Westerner fairly easily, so I'm sure Bin Laden was very happy to hear in his cave that Iraq was being invaded. A chance to fight the 'infidel' on his terms almost. But if, somehow, we'd have managed to keep the large numbers of insurgents out, because I believe it is mainly foreign fighters causing the trouble. Then I think we would be almost in a situation now with a thriving Iraq, rebuild well under way, and ready to definately pull out a large number of troops, with a view to pull out entirely in the near future. With as good as job done. Sadly, the insurgents got in their fast and more & more are coming. As long as we are there, fighting will continue, as it's easy to get to us. When we leave, regardless of what is done, attacks will continue against the government because it will be seen as orchestrated by the West. The best we can hope to do is train the government forces well enough that they have a good chance and leave them to learn there own lessons on how best to combat these idiots.
It's sad that those who go over there to genuinely do something to help them, i.e aid workers etc, are the ones who put their lives at real risk, while the likes of Bush & Blair sit in their comfy, well-protected homes at night.
The whole thing is just a huge mess. I salute those who undertake aid missions, because they don't get paid, and they want to do good.
It's nice that there are still people like that around.
Remember, knowledge is power, unless you forget it all.
Peds, I think that was a inappropriate use of the passive voice
I believe it is mainly foreign fighters causing the trouble
I tend to agree, bring them home. I don't really like watching little kids being pulled out of rubble on telly and all done in the name of........erm..........
There's some good news today. The Iranian diplomat, Fereydoun Jahani, who was taken hostage in Iraq in August by the Islamic Army of Iraq has today been released by his captors and is now safe and well in the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad. He was taken hostage whilst travelling on the road between Baghdad and Kerbala. That's good news for his family at least.
Just wondering what peoples thoughts where on the Bigley family stance, directly criticising Mr Blair etc. At first I thought it was out of order (although in there position total understandable) but now I think it may be strategic, perhaps they think disagreeing with the government may help their cause?
Certainly if they were to stand shoulder to shoulder with the PM then that would provoke the hostage takers?.
At the computer last night I decided to look at some of the beheadings. Call it what you will, morbid curiousity etc.
I have seen some horrible things in my career, dead bodies, mutilations etc.
Nothing however prepared me for what I saw. I went to the bog and nearly threw up.
May the perpetraitors burn in whatever they call hell.
Gore.
Mexican bandit, "Badges?! We don't need no stinking badges....."
Major Kong, "Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in vegas with all that stuff....."
Gore, "The first casualty of war is your underpants....."
