Afghan interpreters petition delivered to Cameron

[Jimbuna]

I used Gurkha as an example because that was the first comparator that sprung to mind.

It would be the same for any national that helped our troops on the front line and as a consequence of our troops pulling out found themselves and their family in clear and present danger.

We are not talking of tens of thousands here in fact the number would probably be miniscule when considering the number of illegal immigrants currently in the UK.

One other consideration should be the fact that these people usually have skills in addition to their bilingual capability.

[August]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I used Gurkha as an example because that was the first comparator that sprung to mind.

It would be the same for any national that helped our troops on the front line and as a consequence of our troops pulling out found themselves and their family in clear and present danger.

We are not talking of tens of thousands here in fact the number would probably be miniscule when considering the number of illegal immigrants currently in the UK.

One other consideration should be the fact that these people usually have skills in addition to their bilingual capability.

This ^

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I used Gurkha as an example because that was the first comparator that sprung to mind.

It would be the same for any national that helped our troops on the front line and as a consequence of our troops pulling out found themselves and their family in clear and present danger.

We are not talking of tens of thousands here in fact the number would probably be miniscule when considering the number of illegal immigrants currently in the UK.

One other consideration should be the fact that these people usually have skills in addition to their bilingual capability.

Still, the motivation is totally different. It is a difference whether you help foreign troops to help your country and you take risks over that, or you help foreign troops and take risks for their country. I talked, by chance, with two friends yesterday. They too see the difference. I fail to see why one c/would miss it.

But anyhow, nix für ungut.

[Platapus]

So the next conflict that the Brits are involved in, will they be "shocked" when the local populace does not collaborate with them?

Not a very good message to send to the world.

"help us fight our enemies and when we are done, you are on your own"

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Platapus

So the next conflict that the Brits are involved in, will they be "shocked" when the local populace does not collaborate with them?

Not a very good message to send to the world.

"help us fight our enemies and when we are done, you are on your own"

"Help us fight YOUR enemies." I corrected that for you.

The interpreters did not serve the crown or Germany's interest. The Brits and Germans where there to fight for Afghanistan's interests in the past years. It is only to be expected that if the locals see it like that as well, they give help and assistance. It is in their own intrest to help defending and recreating their country.

Thisa does in no way compare to foreigners fighting in the US army not for their home nations intewrest, but America'S and then gain citizenship, nor does it compare to the Gurkhas - who joined British forces to serve the British crown.

It is beyond me (and my friends) why you guys completely fail to see that difference.

Whether I assist you on behalf of your cause or on behalf of my own interest - how much more different can two motivations be, eh?

And the bad example set, Platapus, is not over the issue of asylum yes or no, but by the whole idiotic way Afghanistan war was handled for ten years now. America and Europe were too civilised as if they ever had a chance to really win this and to reward all their stupid claims and promises made for a bright and shiny future of Afghanistan.

So the next conflict that the Brits are involved in, will they be "shocked" when the local populace does not collaborate with them?

Not a very good message to send to the world.

"help us fight our enemies and when we are done, you are on your own"

Isn't that what happened to your translators in Vietnam?
Did many translators get shipped out of Iraq when your government pulled the troops out when they couldn't get Iran to give a decent SOFA deal?

It does seem like its par for the course to abandon the locals you recruit when the operation goes tits up.

[u crank]

Originally Posted by Skybird

"Help us fight YOUR enemies." I corrected that for you.

The interpreters did not serve the crown or Germany's interest. The Brits and Germans where there to fight for Afghanistan's interests in the past years. It is only to be expected that if the locals see it like that as well, they give help and assistance. It is in their own intrest to help defending and recreating their country.

What you are saying is true but...by their actions and service, how many German and British soldiers and civilians were spared death or injury? What's that worth?

Just a thought.

[soopaman2]

USA did the same thing to the doctor who helped us bag Bin Laden.

Pakistan's military and its main intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI), saw things differently. After the ISI discovered that Afridi had visited Bin Laden's house just before the raid, its agents arrested him as he was driving home in Peshawar on May 23, and as they say in Pakistan, "he was disappeared." Afridi was taken to a secret prison, leaving unanswered the question of what exactly happened that day in Abbottabad.

Read More http://www.gq.com/news-politics/news...#ixzz2cFya7Ahg

Welcome to the club!

No wonder they saw peoples heads off and put it on liveleak.

edit: this certainly breeds alot of discontent, and gives no reason for them to trust anyone.

[vienna]

The history of nations using indigenous people in other lands to advance their militray, political, imperialistic, capitalistic, religious, or any other motives and then abondoning them to their fates or reneging on the pledges to those who aided them is long and shameful. Here, in Los Angeles, there is a large Filipino community, some of whom served in WW2 as interpreters, armed combatant alogside the US force or who provide much need intel and covert services that greatly aided the war effort in the Pacific, saving many, many American and Allied lives in the process. They were made promises of full US citizenship and veteran's benfits as recognition of their valiant service in WW2 and for the service of many Filipinos in the US military in the years since 1895 when the US acquired control over the nation after the Spanish American War. A bill meant to enforce these promises was introduced in 1993 and every year since then; the bills have never made out of subcommittees in those 20 years that have pased. The Filipino veterans have really been more than patient and are now dying off in greater numbers, as are so many of our WW2 vets. The main obstacle to the passage of any bill has been from the Far Right, who are well known for beating the drums of war and intervention, but seem to fade away when it comes time to pay the bill. And, God forbid, that any of there progeny or others of their class should serve or spill blood in furtherence of the Right causes; especially when there are so many, like the Filipinos, who can be used up and then tossed aside...

The Filipinos are not alone, there quite a few others taken in by the US military and civilian leadership, in the past and the present. As recently as Vietnam: just look up the situation of the Hmong in Vietnam and Laos after the war and how, again, the US rather failed to live up to its obligations and promises regarding the Hmong and left them to the predations of the same enemy they helped us fight against....

Many, many nations have treated the indigenous people of other lands as 'diposaable' or 'forgettable', but it serves the US and other nations like the UK, ill to not take real steps to address the situation and do what is right. As someone earlier noted, what happens the next time we are faced with a conflict in another area of the world and really need the assistance and cooperation of the people in that country? Will they look at our "resume" and say "Seems like a really bad risk here..."


<O>

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by u crank

What you are saying is true but...by their actions and service, how many German and British soldiers and civilians were spared death or injury? What's that worth?

Just a thought.

Risks taken by the Allied and Afghans were risks taken on behalf of Afghanistans future. Maybe one could argue that it is different with the Americans who went. into Afghanistan for their own interest indeed (nine eleven). But Britain, Germany and other Europeans were not part of that start and the Americans even deliberately refused NATO assistance as long as they thought it would ne a walk in the woods only. When Nato finally was asked to join, Europeans engaged explicitly on behalf of Afghanistan's national interest, and the interest of its people. At least that is what is claimed until today.

[August]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Risks taken by the Allied and Afghans were risks taken on behalf of Afghanistans future. Maybe one could argue that it is different with the Americans who went. into Afghanistan for their own interest indeed (nine eleven). But Britain, Germany and other Europeans were not part of that start and the Americans even deliberately refused NATO assistance as long as they thought it would ne a walk in the woods only. When Nato finally was asked to join, Europeans engaged explicitly on behalf of Afghanistan's national interest, and the interest of its people. At least that is what is claimed until today.

The point remains Skybird. Would you see these people who have served our troops abandoned? Murdered along with their wives and children when we pull out?