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Human shields flee Iraq due to safety concerns (WHAT BRAVERY!!)

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by johnheath, Mar 3, 2003.

  1. johnheath

    johnheath Member

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    I love irony. -

    Mar 2, 2003

    Some British "human Shields" Flee Iraq, Cite Safety Fears
    The Associated Press

    LONDON (AP) - Some of the peace activists who went to Iraq to serve as human shields in the event of war returned home, fearing for their safety, a spokesman said Sunday.
    The human shields are mostly European activists who drove from London to Baghdad in two double-decker buses last month, intending to guard civilian sites from a U.S.-led military attack.

    Those who returned home had safety or financial concerns, spokesman Christiaan Briggs said.

    "The aim was always a mass migration and if we had had five to ten thousand people here there would never be a war," he said. "We do not have those numbers."

    The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported that nine of the 11 British human shields in the bus convoy had left Baghdad. Briggs said about a dozen Britons remained in Iraq alongside several dozens from other countries.

    He told Britain's Press Association news agency that Iraq limited the sites that human shields could visit. "Now we are being told we cannot go to certain sites, such as hospitals, so we are reassessing our strategy," he said.

    U.S. officials have said that it is a war crime to use civilians as human shields and that there's no way of guaranteeing their safety.

    On Friday, the head of Sweden's largest peace organization urged human shields to leave Iraq, saying they were being used for propaganda purposes by Saddam Hussein.

    Maria Ermanno, chairwoman of the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society, cited reports that Iraqi officials were arranging transportation, accommodations and news conferences for the human shields.

    "To go down to Iraq and live and act there on the regime's expense, then you're supporting a terrible dictator. I think that method is entirely wrong," Ermanno told Swedish Radio.

    AP-ES-03-02-03 1131EST
     
  2. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Where's the irony?

    They thought by having a certain number of people there to act as shields, then they may be able to prevent a war. Since they didn't get those numbers, they felt there was nothing they could do to prevent it, putting them in more danger. Also, they weren't being given access to the civilian sites they thought they were going to be able to protect.
     
  3. 4chuckie

    4chuckie Member

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    It is ironic that they were willing to be tough if everyone showed up, but since only a few showed shuddenly these brave soles standing up for what they thought was right retreated.

    Say what you want but if you truly believe in something you do it. These folks were just trying to get some PR.
     
  4. johnheath

    johnheath Member

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    If you don't see the irony, I can't explain it to you.
     
  5. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Then you must be as dumb as I am. :rolleyes:
     
  6. johnheath

    johnheath Member

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    LOL.:D
     
  7. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    How can you not see the irony? They're supposedly willing to get blown up, yet they leave because it isn't 'safe'? Huh? That has to be one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Like rain on your wedding day, man.

    It's actually too bad that they left. Hopefully some Hollyweird leftists will take their place.
     
  8. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    :rolleyes: Maybe they could just go to a heavy metal concert.

    I see nothing in that article from those people stating that they were willing to be blown up. Their stated goal was to have enough people to stop the war. When they obviously failed (and I have no problem with laughing at their idea), they left. I still don't see any irony. They had a goal, they didn't suceed, they left.
     
  9. B-ball freak

    B-ball freak Member

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    It is also ironic that they were being used to protect the current regime and found that distasteful.
     
  10. HOOP-T

    HOOP-T Member

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    I guess irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.
     
  11. kidrock8

    kidrock8 Member

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    Isn't it ironic, don't ya think?
     
  12. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    How ironic, now he's blind after a life of beeing able to see- Homer
     

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