Ex-army colonel says Kember got what he deserved (Iraq peace hostage)

[Barrett808]

Ex-army colonel says Kember got what he deserved
AISLINN SIMPSON

BRITISH peace activist Norman Kember "got what he deserved" when he was taken hostage in Iraq, according to a former army colonel.

Colonel Tim Collins said Mr Kember, who was rescued by special forces while in Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams, should have stuck to helping Christian groups forced underground by religious factions in other areas of the country.

"Norman Kember was, quite frankly, naive," said Col Collins, who made a famously inspirational speech to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment on the eve of the Iraq war.

"He was out hobnobbing with the Sunni extremists and he got what he deserved - what is known as a Baghdad Haircut.

"I don't know whether he said thank you or not, but they are volunteers and don't need it .

"He was very lucky to get out. The simple fact of the matter is that it was bloody naive. If you go looking for trouble, you find it."

(more)

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=694002006

[ShortnFiery]

1. What a world class case of an insensitive JERK- OFF! ...

I bet his role model is the fictional character, "Colonel Kilgore" from the flick "Apocalypse Now"? It wouldn't surprise me if this "piece of work" carried around a deck of Death Cards to help him keep-up with the body count. :thumbsdown:

Piss poor example of good leadership traits, Colonel Collins.

You also must be a real blast at parties now that you're retired and can speak "your mind." :puke:

[saigon68]

8. Too Bad Collins didn't bite the du$t too

[Kagemusha]

2. This guy's been back in the news a lot lately.

Yesterday it was what, Basra is out of control, Brit troops are lacking body armor and fire extinguishers, the latter to deal with Molotovs? Needed private security escorts to get to the chopper crash site? (Wonder if they were S. African mercs or something.)

I seem to recall that this guy got in a wee bit of trouble and there's a reason why he's a former colonel. Funny how people expect that "fine leaders of men" have to be saints. I'd tend to think that it's often the opposite. The best morale raising speech might well be from a guy who wants to simply go in and crack some heads.

[ShortnFiery]

3. He's not a fine leader ...

but becoming a selfish and bitter old man. I've known Rangers and SEALS to be, most of them, men of high intelligence and humanity for those who are not as strong (non-enemy), this man has lost his sense of humanity and compassion. I don't think he ever did have these laudable traits - some poor moral characters slip through to HIGH leadership positions ... now that's a shame.

[Kagemusha]

5. Well, I used quotation marks for good reason.

Speaking of selfish, well he seems to view life only from the view of a soldier. Civilians who get in trouble in a "war zone" trying to well, help people, are just fools and rubes because they might have to be saved by professional soldiers according to people like this. I have some sympathy for the logic and no sympathy for the speaker.

My point is that he was widely embraced as a model leader because of one speech and because the speech made him some sort of hero, without anyone doing any background checking to make sure he deserved such status.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Ok, "misunderstood" please accept my apology? :-) eom

[Miss Chybil]

4. Not that I agree with the word "deserved" but,

you play with fire, you more than likely will get burned.

[ShortnFiery]

6. Yes, agreed, but the motivation for his brash statement was to

build up BRAVADO in "like minded" thugs. Yes, we have some problems when all these journalists are getting picked-off by FRIENDLY fire. The last think this military needs is for an ex-col to go running off at the mouth about a peace activist.

Some of the troops are on their third or forth rotation. They are hanging on to their humanity on a thin thread. A good leader (knowing that albeit retired, he's affecting how the troops may react) does NOT ever make a public statement that ANY non-enemy *deserved* death. Private Pyle who's about to lose it may take that seriously and go hunting for Journalists and Peace activists.

No, IMO a very irresponsible public statement by a bitter old man, not a laudable act of a leader.

[Kagemusha]

9. Yes, in other words, these statements are also playing with fire

except the good colonel is unlikely to be the one singed...