peacefuljeffrey 0 #1 February 10, 2006 I really don't know what to make of it. Now it's happened repeatedly: islamic radicals kidnap westerners and threaten to kill them if their demands are not met. They send out tapes of the abductee pleading for his/her life and saying that the west (U.S., Germany, whoever) should meet the kidnappers' demands -- which we obviously can never do. Have you ever thought about it? What would you do? I have to imagine that the abductees in these cases beg for the nations to give in but they have about zero expectation that a nation's foreign policy in these matters is going to be changed just to save their lives, or that important prisoners, guilty of serious crimes, will just be freed in exchange. Part of me is disgusted when someone says, "Do what they say so they don't kill me," when it's pretty clear to anyone that we cannot do that, and that the costs of doing that would be far higher than the value of any one person's life. But at the same time, I sympathize with the horrible plight and the terror that the abductee faces. Anyway, here's the story about this poor woman who's been kidnapped. It sure would be nice if these sicko kidnapers would just realize their tactic is never going to get them what they want out of us, and let her go and stop doing this demented shit. QuoteAbducted American journalist Jill Carroll appeared in a video broadcast on Kuwaiti television Thursday, urging the U.S. government to meet her kidnappers' demands. On the video, Carroll says she is OK. "I'm here. I'm fine. Please, just do whatever they want. Give them whatever they want as quickly as possible. There is very short time. Please do it fast," she says. "That's all." I just don't know... Any way you look at it, it's sad. Is she "just saying it," because they tell her to and she's afraid of them? Or is she saying it from the heart: "I really want you to do this -- give maniacal kidnaping murderers what they demand -- just to save my life"? My guess is the former, but I don't know. What do you think? And yes, before you call me insensitive, I am praying for her safe return. --Jeffrey "With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #2 February 10, 2006 When the sh*t hits the fan, we all have one overwhelming imperative: Survival. She may very well know that she'll die, but if she can get another day, another hour or even another minute of course she will say anything.HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #3 February 10, 2006 this is further evidence of the craziness that has become common in certain parts of the world... yes sad sad sad for those 'westerners' who have become kidnap victims.... journalists, media folks, 'missionaries' , people with an overwhelming urge to " go to the other side of the planet" to help in some real or percieved "social problem".... Well while i will respect their intentions and devotion to some personal "cause"... I do question the sense behind going there at all.... It is not a game,, or a TV show, which is happening in that part of the world... It is Life and Death... and fanaticism and destruction.... The momentum has reached the point of "avalanche" status... and NO well meaning foreigner will accomplish much more that increase the number of "targets" for the captors.... Some time ago when the vicious beheading of an unfortunate captor was released,,, that should have sent the message of the lunacy of the situation.... ( It WAS on video, so it WAS real ) .. Our state department and the state departments of many , much more 'civilized ' countires,, should be issuing urgent orders that their respective citizens stay far far away from entering these countires. If an individual feels religoiusly, or morally, or ethically bound to affect some changes over there,,,, then they must find some other means of accomplishing it... ...Those radical kidnappers express their distain for outsiders, with such cruel and murderous behavior, and yet people STILL go there, to either > "Help", or to "evoke change", or to simply "get the story",,,,,, then they must realize that they are "out there on their own".... Most countries have made it clear that one persons life or the threat against it, will not compare to the geo-political complications which are all wrapped up in war, prisoners, the release of same, or the willingness to "give in to demands"... "if you see quicksand,, don't step into it," " if you start to sink in it, get out fast" "if you don't get out, and are up to your neck in it, it is hard to expect those who warned you to stay away,,, to run to your rescue, and haul you out" I M H O ........ jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,486 #4 February 10, 2006 Ya know... there's some days I really wish I were a SERE Instructor again and you were a student.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #5 February 10, 2006 QuoteYa know... there's some days I really wish I were a SERE Instructor again and you were a student. HAHA, I ws just thinking something along the same lines. If I could teach SERE and the whole experience so that it could be taught over the internet, I could get out now and make a lot of money selling to the government Heavy question Jeffrey and unfortunately, one would have to get heavy into Sociology,ideologies and Politics to even begin to uncover the reasons of "why" and "how" this unfolds the way it does. I'll dig around and see if I have any old info papers on this that I could send you."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #6 February 10, 2006 QuoteYa know... there's some days I really wish I were a SERE Instructor again and you were a student. I'd pay to watch. http://www.training.sfahq.com/survival_training.htm http://www.gosere.com/If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Binkus 0 #7 February 10, 2006 Hey this thread brought up a little smile just thinking back on some of the things frome SERE school. Good times (looking back now) in that school, times I dont care to ever repeat of course. Definatly one of the best and strangest schools I have been to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,486 #8 February 10, 2006 QuoteI'd pay to watch. How much? Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #9 February 10, 2006 QuoteQuoteI'd pay to watch. How much? Can I afford you? If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ViperPilot 0 #10 February 10, 2006 QuoteOur state department and the state departments of many , much more 'civilized ' countires,, should be issuing urgent orders that their respective citizens stay far far away from entering these countires. Actually our State Dept has constantly warned against travel to areas of the world (i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan, SEA, etc). The warning's there, people just don't listen b/c they think they can save the world by themselves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ViperPilot 0 #11 February 10, 2006 Oh man, can I give you money to let me do that again?! It's like disneyland times 10...super! Although in reality I guess I'd have to go w/ Binkus...you just never know when something might come in handy...but hopefully not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MC208B 0 #12 February 10, 2006 my sentiments, exactly. Stay the hell out of there!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #13 February 11, 2006 QuoteOur state department and the state departments of many , much more 'civilized ' countires,, should be issuing urgent orders that their respective citizens stay far far away from entering these countires. The U.S. has been issuing travel warnings about hazardous/dangerous countries and information about traveling abroad for years. The amount of time,energy and money that is spent on the safety of the average citizen by the US government would boggle your mind."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #14 February 11, 2006 roger that.... thanks... well just goes to show you,,, nobody seems to listen to the state dept.. like they should... not journalists, not tv people not even our own current administration..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,486 #15 February 11, 2006 Quote It's like disneyland times 10...super! Only a fellow SERE could appreciate that comment... http://www.imagerynet.com/atlantis/articles/military4.htmlNobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #16 February 11, 2006 QuoteI do question the sense behind going there at all....It is not a game,, or a TV show, which is happening in that part of the world... I guess that is the key. Why do they have a sense of disbelief about the danger of the Middle East ? I wonder whether the same people would drive around in the more dangerous parts of LA ? (In Tampa, we did have a news crew that went to film a riot and were surprised when they were included.) I tend to have the attitude of "They knew it was a snake when the picked it up." Bending to the will of the kidnappers can have a more damaging effect in the wider scheme of things. From a personal perspective, it would suck to be the person who is on the bargaining table. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
