A Navy Seal's account of survival

[bradclark1]

Or - Where being a good guy get's you killed.
Watch the interveiw there.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19173935/

[Jimbuna]

One helluva story/account brad
It gets you wondering about what the soldiers on the ground have to contend with when the news guys aren't around :hmm:

[The Avon Lady]

Of similar interest, this summer will see the release of the movie "Rescue Dawn" ( ), based on late US pilot and POW Dieter Dengler's book Escape From Laos.

[Jimbuna]

Looks similar to Behind Enemy Lines

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159273/

[Heibges]

Originally Posted by The Avon Lady

Of similar interest, this summer will see the release of the movie "Rescue Dawn" ( ), based on late US pilot and POW Dieter Dengler's book Escape From Laos.

And directed by Werner Herzog. I can't even begin to imagin what this movie will be like.

[jumpy]

Interesting read, though I'd have to take issue with that guys picture of Bahrain - he paints it as some god awful place that's just shy of insurgents taking pot shots at American convoys in the streets.

Some of you may not agree, but I'd have to say it's a typical reaction to swaggering Americans in Manama. Granted the island is not without its troubles, but of all the gulf states it was and still is one of the most westernised and welcoming to foreigners of all nationalities.
Bahrain was my home for a little more than six years and I always found that on the whole, respect for the locals engendered their respect and generosity towards you.
Maybe things have changed somewhat, but I doubt it is all due to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Based on that extract I'd be inclined to comment that the book/dramatisation of 'true events where the names have been changed to protect serving members of the armed forces bla bla' is probably not without its bias. Maybe one of you guys could read it and give us a review at some point? I'd be interested in hearing more of life in Bahrain from armed forces based there. Last I heard the Americans had everything, and I mean everything, shipped out from the states from tomato sauce (ketchup) to food, clothes and other typically American cultural stuff etc to keep their service personel happy and supplied with stuff they needed on their 'off time' rather than source things locally.

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Heibges

And directed by Werner Herzog. I can't even begin to imagin what this movie will be like.

Heads up for Hollywood defamation.

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by The Avon Lady

Heads up for Hollywood defamation.

This is the kind of movie where "Based on True Story" means it was probably filmed on planet earth and thats about it.

[Packerton]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

Or - Where being a good guy get's you killed.
Watch the interveiw there.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19173935/

I dont like how you call the US soldiers "Good Guys"

Theirs no Good in War.

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Packerton

I dont like how you call the US soldiers "Good Guys"

Theirs no Good in War.

Yeh, right.

It wasn't good that Germany and Japan were defeated in WWII.

Bad, bad USA, Canada, Britain, Russia, Australia, and the lot of 'em. You should have all rolled over. Naughty! Naughty!

[jumpy]

I think he means on principal there are no good guys in war; war is inherently evil because we kill each other, therefore, regardless of intent or morality, because we participate in something evil, assigning one side as 'the goody guys' is entirely subjective to your viewpoint and in that sense is a bit of a misnomer. What's really important in warfare is not who is right or wrong, but who kills more of the enemy that dictates victory - after that it's up to politicians and vested interests to declare from their positions of victory or defeat who and what the good/bad guys are.

Packerton gives no reference to the righteousness of the conflict in WW2 nor any inference that the allies were bad or should have capitulated. I must admit to failure to see the relevance myself... :hmm: A rather obvious sarcasm illustrating a point still doesn't change the nature of bloodletting, particularily when dealing with something as abstract as the concept of justice or right and wrong, good and evil.

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by Packerton

I dont like how you call the US soldiers "Good Guys"

True. They should have killed them. Then they'd be bad guys but probably alive.

[JALU3]

Originally Posted by The Avon Lady

Of similar interest, this summer will see the release of the movie "Rescue Dawn" ( ), based on late US pilot and POW Dieter Dengler's book Escape From Laos.

Only problem was that it was a VERY limited release.