UK soldier dies in Iraq

[hussar]

A 32-year-old British soldier has died in a firearms incident in Iraq.

Sergeant John Nightingale, from Leeds, died in a "tragic incident", the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.

It happened on 23 September at Shaibah, near the southern city of Basra.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/3139514.stm

[Dead_Parrot]

1. I had no idea...

...until I read this, that we sent the Territorials (aka weekend warriors) over there! I knew the MOD was a bit streched at the moment, but even so...

[hussar]

2. I am an ex Brit soldier myself

from quite a while ago I may hasten to add, we always had a bit of a low opinion of the "weekend cowboys" but since I left in 79 the UK govt has been downsizing the forces to save money.
These guys are not as well trained as regulars and it saddens me to see what is happening all because of a lie.
I now live in the USA, what an eye opener, giz a job mate.

[Dead_Parrot]

4. Giz a job? Hahaha

Fat chance. I know how the * admin treats vets. Come home mate, I'll get you a pint...

[saigon68]

6. DEAD is dead

Too bad this guy died for the Halliburton shareholders-- Halliburton with 2 LL's

[northzax]

3. the whole goddamn war

is a 'tragic incident'

[Cappurr]

5. I wonder why....

they aren't specific about what this "incident" was? They didn't say "accident" They said "incident". Hmmmm.

[Dead_Parrot]

7. It does make you wonder... n/t

[Cappurr]

8. And this is exactly what I was wondering about

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0924-09.htm

This is only a short quote from an entire letter written by one of our reservists. She has been there since Feburary. You should read the whole article. The last paragraph gives me the shivers and it is exactly what I was thinking about that British soldier. Did he hurt himself? It used to happen in Vietnam all the time. People who have never been in a war have no damn conception of what it does to you psycologically......for the rest of your life.



"Everyone keeps saying it is up in the air, including the personnel responsible for deciding who is going where. It feels as if every decision is off the cuff. In this situation there should be plans in place and decisions made before the rubber hits the road.

We are slowly becoming frantic. I hear people saying they are going to begin hurting themselves or others if they can't go home. The helplessness our soldiers are feeling is indescribable, it is past the point of "suck it up and drive on." We just want somewhere to drive on to."

[Dead_Parrot]

9. Jeez...

...and Sgt Duffy's in Kuwait - "not even" in Iraq.
The phrase "Bring 'Em Home" springs to mind. Repeatedly...

Thanks, Cappurr.
I needed that like I needed a Bush in the Whitehouse. Oh, but wait...

Leanne - I'm sure you'll never read this, but I hope you get home safe. I pray for your sanity tonight...