Why,..???????????

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Semper Fi

How do you know they were Marines?

A whole lot of things may have been in play...i.e. was an American helicopter available to pick him up? Were they busy flying missions for the American soldiers...I hate to say it, but it is bull simply because I have seen Medi-vacs called in for Iraqi citizens...so there is def. something not being told there...

Even so - its slightly disturbing to read comments that suggest that the man 'should have' been left for dead.

[hmm1 0]

Semper Fi

How do you know they were Marines?

A whole lot of things may have been in play...i.e. was an American helicopter available to pick him up? Were they busy flying missions for the American soldiers...I hate to say it, but it is bull simply because I have seen Medi-vacs called in for Iraqi citizens...so there is def. something not being told there...

Even so - its slightly disturbing to read comments that suggest that the man 'should have' been left for dead.

Didn't read that part...point it out to me please...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Post #6 & 10

[hmm1 0]

Post #6 & 10

Oh, I thought the original article stated that...yeah, people will never understand until they are over there...you don't leave anyone on the field...

[Ban Hammer 12,876]

maybe they figured he'd just get on his kangaroo and leave if he really wanted to.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Not only that - its basic humanity. You might not be able to save a person, but that's not to say you shouldn't try. Seems more than likely that there's something missing from the story about what resources were in the area, or how safe it might have been at the time for any nearby US soldiers to evacuate him.

[Ban Hammer 12,876]

Not only that - its basic humanity. You might not be able to save a person, but that's not to say you shouldn't try. Seems more than likely that there's something missing from the story about what resources were in the area, or how safe it might have been at the time for any nearby US soldiers to evacuate him.

i suspect the last line was probably the biggest factor.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Seems more logical than "ah he's only a civilian. He shouldn't be there. #### him"

[The_dip_sticks 0]

that is horrible. Life is a life no matter where a person is from. Its tragic when humans fail to regognize it. Things like this just anger me.

[jodee 30]

Yes, the point I was trying to make was the Humanitarian one,...and from speaking as someone whos husband is currently down in iraq for his second deployment, and is a US military member,..he cant understand it either, except to say, the mission may have been too dangerous at the time. Because, my hubby, in part of his job has saved many an Iraqi civilian when injured, so it just doesn't make sense that he was left behind. Australians dont have helos in Iraq to facilitate an airlift.

And I do not agree with the comment about Australians blaming the Goverment the minute something goes wrong. I do not agree that is an Australian thing.

I do definately agree something was not being told,..that why I asked the questions before the story.

I was simply asking a question,..and like C and P said in their post,. I too, certainly hope their was some merit behind their reasoning...that why I asked the question, what if it were one of their own in a security role...and as HMM1 said, there is definately something not being told,..

Its a sad story,..I was simply making it known, that sometimes, things get in the way of life, and sometimes life is not considered the most important part of the mission,...

Jodee

Editted for typos

Edited July 19, 2007 by jodee

[tonyr7 0]

Yes, the point I was trying to make was the Humanitarian one,...and from speaking as someone whos husband is currently down in iraq for his second deployment, and is a US military member,..he cant understand it either, except to say, the mission may have been too dangerous at the time. Because, my hubby, in part of his job has saved many an Iraqi civilian when injured, so it just doesn't make sense that he was left behind. Australians dont have helos in Iraq to facilitate an airlift.

And I do not agree with the comment about Australians blaming the Goverment the minute something goes wrong. I do not agree that is an Australian thing.

I do definately agree something was not being told,..that why I asked the questions before the story.

I was simply asking a question,..and like C and P said in their post,. I too, certainly hope their was some merit behind their reasoning...that why I asked the question, what if it were one of their own in a security role...and as HMM1 said, there is definately something not being told,..

Its a sad story,..I was simply making it known, that sometimes, things get in the way of life, and sometimes life is not considered the most important part of the mission,...

Jodee

Editted for typos

the article paints a nasty picture, but it is very broad and doesnt answer alot of questions.

Suffice it to say that as an australian serviceman, if i had neglected to render assistance to an allie, a mate, then i would not have been very popular with the rest of em.

This misfortune happened in a war zone. Things change in a split second in war zones.Unless your actually there,you just dont know.

[Cantankerous 0]

The man was not "left for dead" by anyone, he was transported by ground, received medical attention, and is alive.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The man was not "left for dead" by anyone, he was transported by ground, received medical attention, and is alive.

There was an implication in some of the earlier posts that the US military should not have saved him (not for any practical reason associated with whether or not it was safe to do so), but because the guy apparently shouldn't have been there in the first place.

[homesick_american 1]

An Australian private security operator was left for dead by American forces after he was seriously wounded during an ambush in southern Iraq.

His title says it all. He chose to go there. He is also a civilian and not a military officer.

PS All is good and well as long as the hundreds of thousand of dollars rolls in as a private security operator; well until they are hurt.

I agree. It's harsh, but that's just the way it works. A lot of private citizens go to Iraq expecting riches and this is just the risk they take. I don't see why our soldiers should endanger themselves to rescue someone who is there just to make money.

[homesick_american 1]

maybe they figured he'd just get on his kangaroo and leave if he really wanted to.

It doesn't?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??! That's it, I'm NEVER going to Australia now.

It's kind of insulting that they think that WE think that.

While we're on the subject of irritating stereotypes...

This man doesn't exist...he is a fictional character.

This is not what happy hour in Dallas looks like.

This is not what my daily commute looks like.

When you come to Dallas, don't prowl the knoll; there is no new evidence to find. Some tourists actually root around with metal detectors trying to find shell casings.

I've never seen one of these in Dallas in my life (doesn't mean we didn't have any, but they sure weren't common) and you pretty much never see them in this part of Texas these days.