Hostages Lost In the Fog of War

You know, I think I’d like to make a confession, here.

Or, at least, put my tuppence ha’penny worth into the proverbial mix.

I don’t know if you’ve seen the news, today.

According to the BBC reports, Linda Norgrove, the aid worker captured in Afghanistan, and who died, during the rescue attempt, yesterday.

Didn’t die at the hands of her captors.

But, instead, died in — effectively — a friendly fire incident.

Dying as a result of a grenade thrown by one of the US troops who was attempting to rescue her.

The idiots …

Believe me, I’m tempted to use one or two far stronger terms.

Now, I’m very aware that the whole situation in Afghanistan is best described as ‘not good’.

I’ve a friend who’s a soldier, who’s been on active service out there.

But Linda Norgrove’s death?

First off, I can’t imagine what her immediate family’s going through: and can only offer my condolences — for whatever good it may do — to her family.

But Linda Norgrove’s death leaves me feeling both sickened and angry.

After all, the US Army — I’m told — is one that prides itself on being one of the world’s best: very different, of course, from being one of the world’s most advanced. Or powerful.

But for them to kill — however unintentionally — the hostage their trying to rescue … ?

Well …

Lets hope names get named, if nothing else.

David Cameron may well claim the responsibility for her death lies with those who kidnapped her.

Personally … ?

I’ve got a lot of salt I’m going to be taking that statement with.

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Dear Lord, preserve us …

I’ve just seen the news …

And I’m thinking …

Well …

Lot’s of things …

Memories, for the most part, of one of the most shocking things I think I ever saw on a TV screen.

The 11th September attacks …

Dear lord, 9/11 …

The 11th of September, 2001, was one of those shockingly big world changing events is imprinted on peoples minds, memories, hearts, what-ever.

The old cliqué comes to mind; that some things are so big, that we remember where we were, when they happened.

9/11, I think, was one of those …

So the news I’ve just seen announced on the BBC’s 10 O’Clock News is … hmmm … eye-catching, lets put it that way.

That Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, along with four others, currently held at Guantanamo Bay, are to be tried — in New York — for organising the 9/11 attacks.

I’m feeling thoughtful.

Especially in light of both Attorney General Holder and President Barack Obama’s stated view that the death penalty should be sought.

I can understand that.

And be honest enough to admit that, were I a relative of one of the victims, or the average American on the street, I’d probably be right behind the idea.

I know the fact that they’ll be tried before a civilian — and public — court is one I fully agree with; after all, it was civilians that made up the bulk of the victims; granted, the trial’s scheduled to be held in New York, but …

But, here and now, the simple fact that both President Obama and the District Attorney have said they want the death penalty is — to me — worrying.

Part of that is simply the fact that I’ve grown up in a country that has no official death penalty. I’ve always felt it to be no way to deal justice.

Revenge, certainly, but justice?

No.

And that’s compounded by the simple fact that we’re talking about a group of people who belong to a movement that values one thing, as part of their take on Islam.

Martyrdom.

Martyrdom

Great, big, powerful word, that, martyrdom.

Noted US lawyer, Ron Kuby, has just been interviewed on BBC News 24, and said that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has indicated that he would be happy to receive a death sentence, from the US.

He may well have a death wish.

Or be trying to seek some sort of redemption for what he helped to do.

But I’ve a nasty feeling that those who sympathise with, give support to or are members of al-Qæda will have a field day with what the government and people of the USA will call justice.

But I believe al-Qæda and it’s kind will call inspirational.

I’d like to know what you think.

Leave a comment, and your name.

Hmmm …

Hmmm …

Can I be honest, here?

¿Can I?

I had been given some thought to writing about “Star Wars” — the real “Star Wars” — as Movie Night Kevin had popped into say Hello, and loaned me his copies of the various movies in the franchise.

But …

Well …

Hmmm …

Have you ever heard a variation of the phrase “I can remember where I was, when …” Big World Shaking Event “… happened”.

My mother swears blind she can remember where she was, when she heard about Kennedy being shot, for example.

I can remember where I was, when I heard about Princess Diana’s death, as another.

But — and I know this is a couple of days earlier than the actual anniversary — Channel 4 has been showing a documentary.

About — as you’ve probably guessed from the first photo — the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre, in New York.

I can remember where I was, I know that …

BOY, can I ever remember … !

2001 wasn’t a vintage year, for me.

So, while I heard about the attack, I didn’t actually see any news footage, ’til the afternoon.

And, my lord, it was shocking stuff.

It was …

I can still, even now, remember how shocked I was to see what had happened.

I can still remember what I thought, as well, when I saw the news footage of those two planes hitting the Towers.

“Dear God, I hope that’s local … ”.

Seriously, that was my first thought.

Followed, almost immediately, by words to the effect of “… because if that’s some bunch of religious fanatics in the Middle East, there’ll be hell to pay.”.

I hate being right, sometimes.

Believe it or not.

But I think it didn’t take the brains of Einstein to realise that the USA would make someone pay dearly for what had been done.

Which I’m thinking has put us — collectively — where we are now.

I know I’ve got an old friend who’s joined that army, and is in Afghanistan, as a result of those attacks.

I also know something else, as well.

That, if ever the USA catches Osama bin Laden, I’d quite understand both the people and government of America would want to string him up.

Understanding that, and agreeing with it, are two very different things, though.

I think if ever the USA ever caught the man who’s ideology was responsible for those lives lost, and executed him, they would be handing Al-Qaeda the biggest recruitment poster and its biggest martyr in one fell swoop.

Mixed blessings …

Do you remember — on Friday — I wrote of the alarming news I’d seen, that an — at the time — unnamed soldier from a friend’s regiment had been killed in Afghanistan?

Hearing something like that is rather worrying; although I think that Greg’s family would’ve had the worst of it.

Well, I’ve got to admit to having mixed feelings, here.

At last night’s movie, Adrian, bless him, happened to mention that he’d found the name of the soldier killed in action on the MoD website; Rifleman Aminiasi Toge.

That’s where my mixed feelings come in.

On the one hand, I can’t help but feel sorry for the poor man’s family, having to deal with what — for them — will be a devastating piece of news.

And on the other, feel grateful it wasn’t Greg.

Bad?

Maybe.

But I’m hoping it’s understandable.

Oh, heck!

THAT’S a worry.

Or, at least, the news I’ve heard today, is.

Do you remember me mentioning, a little while back, the worrying news that an old friend had been posted to Afghanistan, on Tuesday?

More specifically, Greg’s with the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles.

What’s got me worried — although I doubt as worried as his immediate family — is the news I saw, this morning, on the BBC; that an unnamed soldier from that battalion was shot, yesterday morning, whilst on patrol in Helmand province.

Well …

Phew …

I can — and indeed, have — pontificated about the various wars, police actions, and engagements the British Army, along with others, have been involved with, in recent years. Both here, and on one or two other sites.

But I’m thinking that news like that really does being home a very simple fact.

Quite simply, the fact that people are dying, in Helmand.

And — arguments about helicopters and other equipment, aside — that’s a scary truth.

The War on Terror …

Hmm-mm … …

Well …

Where do I go with this one … ?

Probably to all sorts of places …

I mentioned, this morning, that I’ve an old friend who’s in the Army and being shipped out, tomorrow, to Afghanistan.

Which, if you’re in the UK, and have seen the news, you’ll realise is worrying for anyone with friends — or, God help us, family — who’re in the Army.

And, gods help me, I’m still none too sure about the whole chain of international events, leading here …

Well …

That’s not entirely accurate.

I can remember the biggie.

9/11.

Who can’t?

It was one of those events, wasn’t it, like the deaths of Kennedy, Diana, or Gandhi; we can remember exactly where we were when they died.

The Twin Towers getting hit was like that, for me; I can remember where I was.

Boy, can I remember. Which is a whole other story, in and of itself.

And seeing the footage, I can remember what I thought, too, to this day; quite literally, I thought to myself, “Dear God, I hope that’s local …”

Because, seeing the smoke coming out of the World Trade Centre, I know my next thought was “ … ’coz if that’s some bunch of loons in the Middle-East, there’ll be hell to pay.”

Boy, was I right.

And, while I can understand the US and UK government’s sending the troops into Afghanistan — even though there’s a part of me that doesn’t like the idea of war as a political tool — I didn’t approve of the Second Gulf War. However good Tony Blair and company claimed the evidence was.

The first Gulf War, we could point at Saddam Hussein’s actions in invading Kuwait, and at least say we had some sort of moral justification for sending troops in; and yes, before you ask, I heard a lot of speculation in the pub, about George Bush, Sr’s links with oil companies providing a good way of explaining his motivation for that.

But we could at least say something about big bullies invading the little guy, and look smug.

Hmmm.

That could’ve been better phrased, couldn’t it? But you take my point.

We could say a had a morally justifiably reason for the First Gulf War.

But — beyond the very dubious line about Weapons of Mass Destruction — I don’t think we could say the same about the Second Gulf War. I really don’t.

After, I as many other’s, quite quickly worked out that — if Saddam Hussein had some form of WMD’s — he’d’ve used them on the invading troops.

OK, so we toppled an evil régime.

I’ve an old friend who regards China’s Communist government as equally as evil — and, yes, I know China’s record on human Right’s isn’t squeaky clean, even though I don’t necessarily think ‘evil’ is a helpful word to use — but I don’t see us invading the gaff.

Go figure!

But here’s the point I’m trying to make; I think that whatever we’re trying to do in Afghanistan — spread democracy, overthrow the Taliban, guarantee rights and education for Pashtun women, what have you — wasn’t helped by invading Iraq.

Which means that, tomorrow, I’ve a friend going to fight a war that could have been finished along time ago.

And has taken more lives than it should. (Including, according to the BBC News Channel, three 18 year-olds. 18 years old? That’s to young to be a war hero!)