Going to Iraq?
12 August 2004, 06:01 PM
#31
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Originally Posted by Audi-Boy
Hey dude thats a great idea, thats something I wanna do, is it a group buy?
in fact PM me and i'll pay for your flight
12 August 2004, 06:23 PM
#32
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Some backpackers found an easy enough route by flying to jordan and paying a taxi cab some dollars to drive to baghdad from jordan. At the time there was no official leadership of Iraq so no visa or passport requirements Which ,eant the US soldiers just checked passports then let them through. If you wan to go why not you only live once and sometimes you need to do something reckless to feel alive. JUst make sure that before you go you find a way to speak to sombody who has been to or goes there to find out how dangerous it really is and the best way to stay safe.
12 August 2004, 06:46 PM
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Interesting thread.
Some of the finest places I have visited and most hospitable people I have met have been in places where I had previously been told "I wouldn't go there it's too dangerous".
And you know how it is, a guy from Hungary tell you that you'll get your throat cut in Bulgaria, a Bulgarian tells you to avoid getting murdered in Turkey and so on. And you can stick any foreign office advice where the sun don't shine 'cos if you listen to them you'd never go anywhere.
I'm sure that the experiences of aid workers, journalists and military all vary wildly. Both positive and negative. So I would talk to a few people who have actually been there and make your own decision - whilst ignoring the 'you must be mad' comments from those whose experiences are limited to the 10 o'clock news.
For sure it's dangerous, but the risk of getting killed must be offset against your reasons for going and how much you feel your life will be incomplete if you don't go. A whim or an itch?
Anyway, I think you'd be mad to go. Take a pile of $ to Bam in Iran and help out some of the earthquake victims. I'll give you a contact if you want one.
Sean
Some of the finest places I have visited and most hospitable people I have met have been in places where I had previously been told "I wouldn't go there it's too dangerous".
And you know how it is, a guy from Hungary tell you that you'll get your throat cut in Bulgaria, a Bulgarian tells you to avoid getting murdered in Turkey and so on. And you can stick any foreign office advice where the sun don't shine 'cos if you listen to them you'd never go anywhere.
I'm sure that the experiences of aid workers, journalists and military all vary wildly. Both positive and negative. So I would talk to a few people who have actually been there and make your own decision - whilst ignoring the 'you must be mad' comments from those whose experiences are limited to the 10 o'clock news.
For sure it's dangerous, but the risk of getting killed must be offset against your reasons for going and how much you feel your life will be incomplete if you don't go. A whim or an itch?
Anyway, I think you'd be mad to go. Take a pile of $ to Bam in Iran and help out some of the earthquake victims. I'll give you a contact if you want one.
Sean
12 August 2004, 09:09 PM
#36
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OK, to answer the question.
You need to fly to Amman, Jordan, and then get a taxi for 10 hours to the Iraqi border. Where you will stand in a line for a further three hiurs before being turned around and sent home.
You will need a visa and you won't get one. And with the current emergency situation regarding insurgents, trying to cross the border without a visa will result in your either getting shot by security forces or carrying out an impromptu product test on some of the USSR's finest exports - landmines. Unless, of course, yopu want to hook up with one of the Ba'ath sypathiser groups who use the smuggler's trails and who will get you in but will then ransom you off to the highest bidder. Who will kill you.
Someone else suggested that if you want to get in legitimately then you should contact an aid agency who will help. I have some numbers and a couple of names if you're serious about this.
SB
You need to fly to Amman, Jordan, and then get a taxi for 10 hours to the Iraqi border. Where you will stand in a line for a further three hiurs before being turned around and sent home.
You will need a visa and you won't get one. And with the current emergency situation regarding insurgents, trying to cross the border without a visa will result in your either getting shot by security forces or carrying out an impromptu product test on some of the USSR's finest exports - landmines. Unless, of course, yopu want to hook up with one of the Ba'ath sypathiser groups who use the smuggler's trails and who will get you in but will then ransom you off to the highest bidder. Who will kill you.
Someone else suggested that if you want to get in legitimately then you should contact an aid agency who will help. I have some numbers and a couple of names if you're serious about this.
SB
12 August 2004, 09:22 PM
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Originally Posted by wrx03ppp
I'm sure that the experiences of aid workers, journalists and military all vary wildly. Both positive and negative. So I would talk to a few people who have actually been there and make your own decision - whilst ignoring the 'you must be mad' comments from those whose experiences are limited to the 10 o'clock news.
12 August 2004, 09:31 PM
#38
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Jerome, Taff, Si (Bradley) and the other chap who e-mailed me and wanted it to stay anonymous - thanks for the advice..
I've decided to give it a miss until it calms down abit, though looking at CNN tonight at the footage from Najaf that'll take a while..
Thats also to SiPie, who's kinda made me sit back and think as to the reasons I wanted to go - think i need a long hard look at the way things are going in my life and to sort it out before i do some damage..
Cheers chaps
I've decided to give it a miss until it calms down abit, though looking at CNN tonight at the footage from Najaf that'll take a while..
Thats also to SiPie, who's kinda made me sit back and think as to the reasons I wanted to go - think i need a long hard look at the way things are going in my life and to sort it out before i do some damage..
Cheers chaps
12 August 2004, 10:14 PM
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Good to see you've seen sense brother
Sbradley, I suppose that is a dramatic way of getting into Iraq but the reality is the way I said it. You don't need a Visa - They have no infrastructre - who's gonna check?
Sbradley, I suppose that is a dramatic way of getting into Iraq but the reality is the way I said it. You don't need a Visa - They have no infrastructre - who's gonna check?
12 August 2004, 10:18 PM
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Come up with a stupid idea of going just to set foot on Iraqi soil, probably just for a few hours..
12 August 2004, 10:56 PM
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Taff107,
I hope the guys in that pic blessed not to be saddled with SA80's aren't, erm, 'special'...
Also, is the guy second from the left an Engineer orifice?
Lastly, is that a Doris on the right?
I hope the guys in that pic blessed not to be saddled with SA80's aren't, erm, 'special'...
Also, is the guy second from the left an Engineer orifice?
Lastly, is that a Doris on the right?
12 August 2004, 11:13 PM
#48
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Originally Posted by Jerome
Taff107,
I hope the guys in that pic blessed not to be saddled with SA80's aren't, erm, 'special'...
Also, is the guy second from the left an Engineer orifice?
Lastly, is that a Doris on the right?
I hope the guys in that pic blessed not to be saddled with SA80's aren't, erm, 'special'...
Also, is the guy second from the left an Engineer orifice?
Lastly, is that a Doris on the right?
2 yes, he was the Generals ADC
3. F*** knows!
12 August 2004, 11:34 PM
#49
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Originally Posted by Richard Askew
Just looking at the feasibility of doing it - something to tell the grandkids, that kind of thing... I'm not brave or bolshy enough to do it if there's a significant risk of losing my life
Just come to Belfast - £2.99 for a flight and you can stay with me - I can take you a tour of the murder sites and introduce you to a few of the lads..... mmmmmm.... hang on - can you do a good 'not english' accent? I can see some issues with the lads otherwise
13 August 2004, 12:16 AM
#50
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Hey Taff,
Point taken, though my last visit was exactly as described (though I had papers and so got through fine.) Haven't checked on the state of the crossing from Jordan recently but I'm sure there's something there.
The border situation is one of the reasons why there's so much trouble at the moment. Surely they've (we've) got to get it closed down?
Anyway, Rich I'm glad you've seen the error of your ways. Anything you want to have a chat about, mano et mano?
SB
Point taken, though my last visit was exactly as described (though I had papers and so got through fine.) Haven't checked on the state of the crossing from Jordan recently but I'm sure there's something there.
The border situation is one of the reasons why there's so much trouble at the moment. Surely they've (we've) got to get it closed down?
Anyway, Rich I'm glad you've seen the error of your ways. Anything you want to have a chat about, mano et mano?
SB
13 August 2004, 12:50 AM
#52
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Just out of interest (from an interested taxpayer!)......
How do you manage to procure a different gun from that which is issued as std equipment? Do you just ask and you get? Do you have to be at a certain pecking order to get something special?
How do you manage to procure a different gun from that which is issued as std equipment? Do you just ask and you get? Do you have to be at a certain pecking order to get something special?
13 August 2004, 08:33 AM
#53
13 August 2004, 09:01 AM
#54
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imlach,
In our case we were able to draw non standard kit from a pool on an as needed basis. That meant, for example, that I spent a lot of time with unusual kit because of the ammunition that was most readily available in the area that I was working at the time - easier to pick it up locally than to carry it and have to ship it in, you see...
As far as I know it still works much the same way.
SB
In our case we were able to draw non standard kit from a pool on an as needed basis. That meant, for example, that I spent a lot of time with unusual kit because of the ammunition that was most readily available in the area that I was working at the time - easier to pick it up locally than to carry it and have to ship it in, you see...
As far as I know it still works much the same way.
SB
13 August 2004, 09:20 AM
#55
Originally Posted by Richard Askew
How could one get a flight into Iraq? Are there any civilian companies who would fly into the country? How do journalists get there?
Come up with a stupid idea of going just to set foot on Iraqi soil, probably just for a few hours..
Feasible? Completely ridiculous? Will we get beheaded live on al-jazeera.com?
The last time someone came up with an equally daft idea it resulted in Nathan buying a Ferrari Testarossa
Come up with a stupid idea of going just to set foot on Iraqi soil, probably just for a few hours..
Feasible? Completely ridiculous? Will we get beheaded live on al-jazeera.com?
The last time someone came up with an equally daft idea it resulted in Nathan buying a Ferrari Testarossa
Dean
13 August 2004, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by fast bloke
Just come to Belfast - £2.99 for a flight and you can stay with me - I can take you a tour of the murder sites and introduce you to a few of the lads..... mmmmmm.... hang on - can you do a good 'not english' accent? I can see some issues with the lads otherwise
I'm popping over to Bangor sometime this year to see a lass I used to live with - she invited me to spectate at Drumcree next year too
13 August 2004, 09:34 AM
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Anything you want to have a chat about, mano et mano?
13 August 2004, 10:00 AM
#59
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Hi Jerome
Yes, I realised that some of you guys had served out there, I was trying to make the point that information and opinions were valuable from those that had been there. And also that the experiences of forces personnel were likely to be very different to those of aid workers or journalists or medics in different areas of a large country.
But especially to ignore the FO and armchair experts.
Cheers
Sean
Yes, I realised that some of you guys had served out there, I was trying to make the point that information and opinions were valuable from those that had been there. And also that the experiences of forces personnel were likely to be very different to those of aid workers or journalists or medics in different areas of a large country.
But especially to ignore the FO and armchair experts.
Cheers
Sean
13 August 2004, 12:12 PM
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Richard - do you still fancy a trip to Iraq?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/3560892.stm
UB
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/3560892.stm
UB