Shifting Sands

**Vladimir** · 03-21-2008, 17:51

Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff

In this situation is is a good thing that his wife left him. She and her children are less likely to die and he can still fight. She said that she would come back when he stopped fighting.

Maybe there was a subtext to her comments I missed.

**ICantSpellDawg** · 03-21-2008, 18:46

Originally Posted by Vladimir

Maybe there was a subtext to her comments I missed.

The final words of the story.

"I met her in Damascus. We held hands and we cried. We have been in love since we were teenagers and we are still in love. I begged her to come back. She asked me what I would do if my commander wanted me to start fighting again. Would I fight?

"When I said yes, she said she couldn't come back. But I will keep trying."

It sounded like she only left because her husband was likely to get everyone killed. She asked him that same question right before she left.

**Vladimir** · 03-21-2008, 19:19

Maybe I'll have to read it again but I believe he is currently fighting with US forces, not holding in an inactive status to fight against them.

**ICantSpellDawg** · 03-21-2008, 19:38

Originally Posted by Vladimir

Maybe I'll have to read it again but I believe he is currently fighting with US forces, not holding in an inactive status to fight against them.

Either way he is fighting. It is a damned if you do situation. If you fight the U.S. forces you will be killed and your family may be as well. If you fight against Al-Qaeda, you run a serious risk of having your family killed along with yourself.

She just wants him to relax and stop fighting anyone, which is understandable from a wife and mothers point of view at the expense of the necessity of the situation.

**Vladimir** · 03-21-2008, 19:42

No. He is fighting alongside US forces. His wife asked him what he would do if his (old) commander (the one he fought with against the US) asked him to fight.

**Tribesman** · 03-21-2008, 19:49

And the downside of the story ..... the powers are messing it up again , apparently some really clever bugger thought that it would be a really good idea to keep the groups together and active (but not active against the coilition) by not paying their wages , by reneging on the employment offers and basicly treating them like excrement . 4 of these units have left the deal entirely , 2 have already walked out on strike and 38 more are about to walk out .
It seems they are complaining about being used and abandoned , thats the same gripe them fellas in Afganistan had back when it was the Russians not Al-qaida that was public enemy #1 .
I wonder whatever happened to them fellas in Afghanistan ?

**Vladimir** · 03-21-2008, 19:54

Speaking of Russians. That's also how the Russian army was treated and they're still around.

What happened to them in Afghanistan? How do Florida oranges grow in New England?

Walking out on strike? That actually sounds encouraging. Should be interesting to follow.

**ICantSpellDawg** · 03-21-2008, 20:26

You are right. I see that in the sentence right before the few I quoted.

**Tribesman** · 03-21-2008, 20:34

Walking out on strike? That actually sounds encouraging. Should be interesting to follow.

Yeah it should be interesting , its not everyday you get a bunch of terrorists that you are paying to not be terrorists stopping work , I wonder if that means they become terrorists again

**Vladimir** · 03-21-2008, 20:46

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Yeah it should be interesting , its not everyday you get a bunch of terrorists that you are paying to not be terrorists stopping work , I wonder if that means they become terrorists again

So they're all terrorists now? If I would have said that you would have ripped me a new one. Maybe you're trying to trip me up.

"On strike" implies an organized labor movement, and that's something which bodes well for Iraq. Since I don't know exactly what you're talking about I'll take your words literally and look for more, later.