NationStates Jolt Archive

Unfourtunatly this was on the radio and (suprise, suprise) I cant seem to find it on the interwebz.

In any case, it appears several US soldiers were on patrol in a neighborhood when they came under fire from a vehicle of some sort, the the guys in the car did a runner when the soldiers started to fire back.
Anyway, when they investigated the soldiers heard sounds coming from the trunk, which, when investigated, proved to be an Iraqi who had been tied up in the back of the car.
Apparently this guy was held hostage for several weeks, and was on his way to be executed because his family couldnt pay the ransom.

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

I love the way no-one has replied to this post for ages.

Its true all NSers must be cruel heartless villains, only waiting for the next brutal murder or rape...

Unfourtunatly this was on the radio and (suprise, suprise) I cant seem to find it on the interwebz.

In any case, it appears several US soldiers were on patrol in a neighborhood when they came under fire from a vehicle of some sort, the the guys in the car did a runner when the soldiers started to fire back.
Anyway, when they investigated the soldiers heard sounds coming from the trunk, which, when investigated, proved to be an Iraqi who had been tied up in the back of the car.
Apparently this guy was held hostage for several weeks, and was on his way to be executed because his family couldnt pay the ransom.

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

Aaaw. How cute.

http://www.nexternal.com/bsybunny/images/AJ1.jpg


'course, if only the US had been able to provide adequate security in the first place, or do a decent job in training the Iraqis...

*Sees that Fass won't touch this thread with a thirty foot poll*

I love the way no-one has replied to this post for ages.

Its true all NSers must be cruel heartless villains, only waiting for the next brutal murder or rape...

If it bleeds it leads.

There was a story a little while back about British soldiers, having just escaped from a fierce firefight, going back in to the fray to retrieve the body of a fallen squadmate, who'd been killed in the fight. To get in, they hung off the rails of an Apache helicopter, then I think they legged it back out. It's certainly heart-warming stuff compared to the rapes, murders and horrendous politics of it all.

*Sees that Fass won't touch this thread with a thirty foot poll*

You must be some kind of...of...of person who can predict the future! Youre amazing!
Please, have my children.

Thanks for the positive post.

You must be some kind of...of...of person who can predict the future! Youre amazing!
Please, have my children.

*has children*

Thanks for the positive post.

My pleasure.

Unfourtunatly this was on the radio and (suprise, suprise) I cant seem to find it on the interwebz.

In any case, it appears several US soldiers were on patrol in a neighborhood when they came under fire from a vehicle of some sort, the the guys in the car did a runner when the soldiers started to fire back.
Anyway, when they investigated the soldiers heard sounds coming from the trunk, which, when investigated, proved to be an Iraqi who had been tied up in the back of the car.
Apparently this guy was held hostage for several weeks, and was on his way to be executed because his family couldnt pay the ransom.

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

that was lucky. now, remind me again why there is such a horrifying state of affairs in iraq that this sort of thing can happen...

*Sees that Fass won't touch this thread with a thirty foot poll*

No surprise there.

*has children*

yey

No surprise there.

You know, if everybody keeps quoting this guy he's going to show up just to spite the ones who said he wouldnt come :P

You know, if everybody keeps quoting this guy he's going to show up just to spite the ones who said he wouldnt come :P

You make it sound like I want that to happen :D

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

One life saved versus about 200,000 directly due to US action. 199,999 to go, not counting recent additions to the debit side of the equation.

You know what would be a positive story...start bringing the dead Iraqis back to life. GI Jesus in the desert, raising the dead en masse.

You make it sound like I want that to happen :D

I SEE THROUGH YOUR LIES ONDORE!

One life saved versus about 200,000 directly due to US action. 199,999 to go, not counting recent additions to the debit side of the equation.

You know what would be a positive story...start bringing the dead Iraqis back to life. GI Jesus in the desert, raising the dead en masse.
Disregarding any verification of that number, you DO know this happens every day, most likely more than once?
Im willing to bet that US/allied soldiers have saved quite a lot of Iraqis through direct action.

Disregarding any verification of that number, you DO know this happens every day, most likely more than once?
Im willing to bet that US/allied soldiers have saved quite a lot of Iraqis through direct action.

If I put two people at risk, shoot one and save the other, the net loss is still 1, I'm afraid.

It is better than a net loss of 2 I suppose, but the optimal would have been to not put them at risk in the first place.

I SEE THROUGH YOUR LIES ONDORE!


Disregarding any verification of that number, you DO know this happens every day, most likely more than once?
Im willing to bet that US/allied soldiers have saved quite a lot of Iraqis through direct action.

The best possible direct action they could have taken would have been to "stop" when the order to "go" came through. Everything else is picking up fragments of an already disastrous mess.

One life saved versus about 200,000 directly due to US action. 199,999 to go, not counting recent additions to the debit side of the equation.

You know what would be a positive story...start bringing the dead Iraqis back to life. GI Jesus in the desert, raising the dead en masse.

That never turns out well.

http://www.houseofhorrors.com/re-animator.htm

That never turns out well.

http://www.houseofhorrors.com/re-animator.htm

Though a classic of 80's video, I missed that one. Seen "From beyond" though - dire shite.

If I put two people at risk, shoot one and save the other, the net loss is still 1, I'm afraid.

It is better than a net loss of 2 I suppose, but the optimal would have been to not put them at risk in the first place.

Wouldnt it be nice if the world was a perfectly safe place, where nobody was ever at risk?
Alas, Eden is lost, etc.

that was lucky. now, remind me again why there is such a horrifying state of affairs in iraq that this sort of thing can happen...

Yeah. It's a shame that you don't hear more about the rapes, torturings, and murders that don't happen. It's a shame that the liberal media has this bias in favor of events instead of non-events.

Yeah. It's a shame that you don't hear more about the rapes, torturings, and murders that don't happen. It's a shame that the liberal media has this bias in favor of events instead of non-events.

Remind me again where this delusion of a "liberal media" comes from again, especially when it seems to be the conservatives who have the overwhelming cacophany of voices in the media in the first place. Wolf Blitzer, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bob Novak, Michael Medved, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and more. Tell me if you can come up with near as many names from the "liberal" media that get even one-tenth the amount of exposure and audience.

Unfourtunatly this was on the radio and (suprise, suprise) I cant seem to find it on the interwebz.

In any case, it appears several US soldiers were on patrol in a neighborhood when they came under fire from a vehicle of some sort, the the guys in the car did a runner when the soldiers started to fire back.
Anyway, when they investigated the soldiers heard sounds coming from the trunk, which, when investigated, proved to be an Iraqi who had been tied up in the back of the car.
Apparently this guy was held hostage for several weeks, and was on his way to be executed because his family couldnt pay the ransom.

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

Yes something positive is a nice change

Remind me again where this delusion of a "liberal media" comes from again, especially when it seems to be the conservatives who have the overwhelming cacophany of voices in the media in the first place. Wolf Blitzer, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bob Novak, Michael Medved, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and more. Tell me if you can come up with near as many names from the "liberal" media that get even one-tenth the amount of exposure and audience.

I would say its not so much the 'liberal media' (or whatever. I watch CNN myself, since both sides accuse them of being biased towards the other, I fugre theyre doing SOMETHING right), as the 'profit driven media'.
As was mentioned earlier, people dont want soppy stories with releived mothers. They want stories sopping with blood with grieving mothers.

Unfourtunatly this was on the radio and (suprise, suprise) I cant seem to find it on the interwebz.

In any case, it appears several US soldiers were on patrol in a neighborhood when they came under fire from a vehicle of some sort, the the guys in the car did a runner when the soldiers started to fire back.
Anyway, when they investigated the soldiers heard sounds coming from the trunk, which, when investigated, proved to be an Iraqi who had been tied up in the back of the car.
Apparently this guy was held hostage for several weeks, and was on his way to be executed because his family couldnt pay the ransom.

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

I would be more impressed if U.S. forces can do what they were supposed to be doing, securing Iraq and training Iraqi forces to do the same. Clearly this is not occuring. With all the other people being as you said "raped and murdered" one rescue is not going to make the rest disappear or even come close to evening the scoreboard out. The simple fact is that Iraq is a hellhole and for every Iraqi the U.S. rescues, I'm sure there are easily 10 more who end up dead.

I would be more impressed if U.S. forces can do what they were supposed to be doing, securing Iraq and training Iraqi forces to do the same. Clearly this is not occuring. With all the other people being as you said "raped and murdered" one rescue is not going to make the rest disappear or even come close to evening the scoreboard out. The simple fact is that Iraq is a hellhole and for every Iraqi the U.S. rescues, I'm sure there are easily 10 more who end up dead.

And you expect me to do...what, exactly?
I would love to think that I could change your opinion, but sadly, I doubt that either of us is going to change our point of view.
I do, however, feel the need to point out that for every rescue that gets reported, there are probobly a hundred that dont get any mention.

I love the way no-one has replied to this post for ages.

Its true all NSers must be cruel heartless villains, only waiting for the next brutal murder or rape...

Your right. The only reason one would respond to a story of Iraq is if they think it helps continue to propel their point on why they think it's the worst war in the history of the world! (When in reality it's no more worse than any other war) A good story like this doesn't prove what they want to here. Just like no one will post a story on religion that isn't about a crazy religious person that does this or that, When in reality there are millions of good hearted religious people, (Muslims included) doing great things. One bit of goodnews and it goes ignored by the national media

And you expect me to do...what, exactly?
I would love to think that I could change your opinion, but sadly, I doubt that either of us is going to change our point of view.
I do, however, feel the need to point out that for every rescue that gets reported, there are probobly a hundred that dont get any mention.

I don't see how the U.S. can do anything. The Iraqis are fighting amongst themselves about issues only they can solve. U.S. troops just get caught in the middle without being able to stop it in anyway. It is like a bandaid on a gunshot wound. And while I'm sure there are individual victories that aren't mentioned in the media what I know is a fact is that hundreds of Iraqis die in the violence every week. Which doesn't count the individual crimes that ravage Baghdad. How little pinpricks of success is supposed to outweigh the outrages that occur all the time in Iraq really mystifies me.

I don't see how the U.S. can do anything. The Iraqis are fighting amongst themselves about issues only they can solve. U.S. troops just get caught in the middle without being able to stop it in anyway. It is like a bandaid on a gunshot wound. And while I'm sure there are individual victories that aren't mentioned in the media what I know is a fact is that hundreds of Iraqis die in the violence every week. Which doesn't count the individual crimes that ravage Baghdad. How little pinpricks of success is supposed to outweigh the outrages that occur all the time in Iraq really mystifies me.

If thats the case, then a pullout of US troops certainly wont help. Perhaps a better metaphore would be chemotherapy? Although I realize that comparing the insurgents/terrorists/whatever with cancer is a bit cliche.
And from my understanding, its not so much 'Iraqi's' fighting as Suunis and Shiites fighting. The Kurdish area is apparently pretty stable.

If thats the case, then a pullout of US troops certainly wont help. Perhaps a better metaphore would be chemotherapy? Although I realize that comparing the insurgents/terrorists/whatever with cancer is a bit cliche.
And from my understanding, its not so much 'Iraqi's' fighting as Suunis and Shiites fighting. The Kurdish area is apparently pretty stable.

But it is a fight between the Sunnis and the Shia. They are killing each other over reasons we can barely comprehend. How we are going to make anything better by remaining in the country is something I don't understand. The Iraqis have to work out matters by themselves. All we are doing is propping up an ineffectual corrupt Iraqi government and the simple fact is that we can't stay forever and hold their country together. I would think that our very presense is also fueling the violence as the insurgents will have an extra reason to kill Iraqi civilians right along with our soldiers. It would seem to be best in the long run to pull out and let the Iraqis choose their own destiny.

But it is a fight between the Sunnis and the Shia. They are killing each other over reasons we can barely comprehend. How we are going to make anything better by remaining in the country is something I don't understand. The Iraqis have to work out matters by themselves. All we are doing is propping up an ineffectual corrupt Iraqi government and the simple fact is that we can't stay forever and hold their country together. I would think that our very presense is also fueling the violence as the insurgents will have an extra reason to kill Iraqi civilians right along with our soldiers. It would seem to be best in the long run to pull out and let the Iraqis choose their own destiny.

Well, if everybody pulls out of Iraq, I see one of two things happening.

First, total anarchy. Like Somalia, only worse.

Second, Iran moves in and Iraq becomes an Iranian puppet/problem/whatever. Iran then uses its own methods to deal with the remaining insurgents who dont like Iran. You can guess what those are.

In either situation, I can see the Kurds splitting off to form their own state, which might work out unless Iran decides that they want that land to.

You make it sound like I want that to happenYes, I want that to happen..
I want kidnapped Iraqi civilians to be saved..
I want any kidnapped person to be saved..
saved by anyone.. Brit, US, Danish, Shia, Sunni Fighters.. by other civilians.. by anyone..

So if this really happened.. It does make me feel good.. I do want it to happen.
(and yes I know he was talking about something else)

Yes, I want that to happen..
I want kidnapped Iraqi civilians to be saved..
I want any kidnapped person to be saved..
saved by anyone.. Brit, US, Danish, Shia, Sunni Fighters.. by other civilians.. by anyone..

So if this really happened.. It does make me feel good.. I do want it to happen.
(and yes I know he was talking about something else)

You, youre being too positive!
Activate his Punishment Chip!
(bzzzt!)

Well, if everybody pulls out of Iraq, I see one of two things happening.

First, total anarchy. Like Somalia, only worse.

Second, Iran moves in and Iraq becomes an Iranian puppet/problem/whatever. Iran then uses its own methods to deal with the remaining insurgents who dont like Iran. You can guess what those are.

In either situation, I can see the Kurds splitting off to form their own state, which might work out unless Iran decides that they want that land to.

We can call Iran the world boogeyman but I really don't see them gaining influence over Iraq being any worse then the current chaos affecting Iraq. If Iran can bring the stability that we can't then I would consider that to be all the better. I would doubt that they have that kind of clout though and I would think there would be a better chance of the civil war continuing until as I said before, Iraq can work out its own problems. There might even be a chance of working some of the issues out without the U.S. being present as a lightning rod for the extremists to use to stir people up.

I really wouldn't mind if the Kurds did decide to break off, they don't have the same mixed populations that the Sunnis and Shiites do. My only concern would be Turkey, as I understand it they wouldn't like a Kurd state on their border.

Am I the only would who thought this thread was going to be a terrible spin of the story in Fass' thread about the soldier pleading guilty to rape?

Am I the only would who thought this thread was going to be a terrible spin of the story in Fass' thread about the soldier pleading guilty to rape?

Well Fass sometimes just begs to have spinoff threads but in this case... no. In my opinion anyway. :p

If it bleeds it leads.

No, if a US soldier is bad, it's worth posting. Otherwise, no matter what good came out of a US action, it's not worth posting.

This is the forum of doom and gloom and condemnation all around.

Wouldnt it be nice if the world was a perfectly safe place, where nobody was ever at risk?
Alas, Eden is lost, etc.

I won't deny that they weren't at some form of risk prior to US intervention.

However, as it stands, the US (and co-operating allies) are responsible for the type of risk that these people are exposed to.

No, if a US soldier is bad, it's worth posting. Otherwise, no matter what good came out of a US action, it's not worth posting.

This is the forum of doom and gloom and condemnation all around.

Hey, you know what? I did my job today, I did everything I was supposed to do. I demand a headline!! I'm frankly sick and tired of the media only mentioning my line of work when corruption and wrongdoing is exposed, why can't they focus on the good news for a change?

Remind me again where this delusion of a "liberal media" comes from again, especially when it seems to be the conservatives who have the overwhelming cacophany of voices in the media in the first place. Wolf Blitzer, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bob Novak, Michael Medved, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and more. Tell me if you can come up with near as many names from the "liberal" media that get even one-tenth the amount of exposure and audience.

You got that I was being sarcastic, right?

I don't really think that things that don't happen deserve media attention.

Unfourtunatly this was on the radio and (suprise, suprise) I cant seem to find it on the interwebz.

In any case, it appears several US soldiers were on patrol in a neighborhood when they came under fire from a vehicle of some sort, the the guys in the car did a runner when the soldiers started to fire back.
Anyway, when they investigated the soldiers heard sounds coming from the trunk, which, when investigated, proved to be an Iraqi who had been tied up in the back of the car.
Apparently this guy was held hostage for several weeks, and was on his way to be executed because his family couldnt pay the ransom.

This was, in turn, followed by the teary interview with the guys mother, who didnt expect to see him again. It was, indeed, quite heartwarming, bringing a spark of light into the withered and cynical organ which resides in my chest :P

Why do I post this?
Because Im willing to bet some people are as tired as I am of hearing about nothing but rapes and murders. This isnt as exciting to the LCD, Im sure, but NSG needs a positive story every now and then.

Heh. I hope these things happen more often.

No, if a US soldier is bad, it's worth posting. Otherwise, no matter what good came out of a US action, it's not worth posting.

This is the forum of doom and gloom and condemnation all around.

Tell you what Deep Kimchi. Stop trying to uphold some vague "America is for liberty and justice for all" ideal and spouting that sort of crap and maybe when its soldiers do something good, it might be worth news.

Otherwise, put a sock in it. Right now, you're just really pathetic beating that drum of yours going "wah! wah! people doing their jobs like they're supposed to don't get lots of news"

No, if a US soldier is bad, it's worth posting. Otherwise, no matter what good came out of a US action, it's not worth posting.

This is the forum of doom and gloom and condemnation all around.

So when we start hearing old historic stories of the Russians kissing babies in Afghanistan, you'll be there applauding?

Heh. I hope these things happen more often.

It happens every day, more than once.
You just dont hear about it.

We can call Iran the world boogeyman but I really don't see them gaining influence over Iraq being any worse then the current chaos affecting Iraq. If Iran can bring the stability that we can't then I would consider that to be all the better. I would doubt that they have that kind of clout though and I would think there would be a better chance of the civil war continuing until as I said before, Iraq can work out its own problems. There might even be a chance of working some of the issues out without the U.S. being present as a lightning rod for the extremists to use to stir people up.

I really wouldn't mind if the Kurds did decide to break off, they don't have the same mixed populations that the Sunnis and Shiites do. My only concern would be Turkey, as I understand it they wouldn't like a Kurd state on their border.

Im not saying Iran taking over Iraq would be bad for the US in a direct fashion, but think about Iraqs NEIGHBORS. Its the Suuni/Shiite thing on a larger scale. Do you think the Saudis are a going to be pleased about having Iran right next door?
An expanding Iran would also make Israel nervous...more nervous than it is already. Nervous people arent the best when it comes with nuclear weapons.

Im all for a three-state solution myself. The British werent exactly thinking in terms of the best interest of the locals when they started drawing lines in the sand.
The Turks apparently (at this point) dont seem to mind too much, apparently theyve been making political/trade deals with the Kurdish leadership, since Kurdistan is basically quasi-independant already.
It seems that the Kurds were the only ones actually prepared for this event, with a government already set up and some of the basics you need to run a country in place.

http://www.workingforchange.com/webgraphics/WFC/TMW021407.jpg