Why all the fuss for the POW's?

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
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Now, don't get me wrong. I'm glad they're safe and back home, and I appreciate the fact that they endured a pretty traumatic and psychologically affecting experience. I served in the military myself, so I can understand their commitment. What I don't get is why all the fanfare for people who essentially got themselves into trouble and had to be rescued, putting others at risk. I'm not talking about the 2 Apache pilots. They were flying a combat mission and some "farmer" got a lucky shot at them. I'm talking about the 5 people from the 507th Maintenance unit that took a wrong turn and drove right into the middle of an Iraqi army convention. Seems to me that if they were more careful, more sure of their location and more in contact with their convoy that they wouldn't have ended up in that situation. Now they're home and being treated like heroes, like they did something extraordinary OTHER than getting lost and getting captured. I doubt the rest of the soldiers that return home (whenever that will be) will get these huge homecomings in which they get to give speeches and everyone heaps admiration on them. And those soldiers actually DID something.

I don't get it. I don't begrudge them their freedom or belittle their service to the country, but I don't see the big deal. :confused:
 
Apr 5, 2000
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It's not like they all voted to get themselves into trouble - the driver or whoever made the wrong turn and they were caught in the middle of it. As soldiers they actually did do something - it was their job to do maintenance work - you heard of some of the trucks breaking down because of the sand/heat.

And how are the people from the 507th diff. from the 2 Apache pilots?
 

chiwawa626

Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
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Anyhow, i think they are getting way too much attention and media coverage. Its great, but im sure theres a lot more intresting or more important things to report now that they are safe.
 

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
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I agree that whoever was driving got them all into the situation. And, yes, they did do SOMETHING. Their job was to maintain the vehicles, equipment, etc and that is a very necessary position.

I gues they're not really different from the 2 Apache pilots, just a different TYPE of service they performed. People like the Apache pilots and front line troops in the tanks and IFV's and whatnot were actually in the thick of it. Meeting the enemy head-on and engaging when the opportunity arose. Maintence people are usually rear echelon troops (or REMF's = rear echelon mf'ers). They don't usually travel with the front line units. They follow on a few miles back and move up when the coast is clear. They are in the theater of war, yes, but they are risking a lot less than the guys in the tanks or helos shooting at the bad guys.

These 5 got involved because of a wrong turn. They got caught. Now they're home, but IMHO hardly heroes.

Again, I'm not saying they didn't do anything worthwhile, I just don't think they deserve all this praise.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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It's because the initial war/bombing of Iraq is done. There is nothing else to report about.
 

chiwawa626

Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: Nocturnal
It's because the initial war/bombing of Iraq is done. There is nothing else to report about.

I'd so watch the news if they just took a camera through the palaces, streets, villages and ghettos of iraq...But the media figures reporting the same thing (laci peterson and pows) all day will attract me to watch? :-\
 

Ylen13

Banned
Sep 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
It's not like they all voted to get themselves into trouble - the driver or whoever made the wrong turn and they were caught in the middle of it. As soldiers they actually did do something - it was their job to do maintenance work - you heard of some of the trucks breaking down because of the sand/heat.

And how are the people from the 507th diff. from the 2 Apache pilots?

i don't think it was the drive fault but instead the solder with laptop that has gps receiver attach to it. I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.
 

slick230

Banned
Jan 31, 2003
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Do they even have a "right" and "left" in Iraq, or is it just "go that way" or "head over there"?
 

chiwawa626

Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
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I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.

Just a sorta unrelated question:
Is there any iq requirements to join the army?
 

Ylen13

Banned
Sep 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: chiwawa626
I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.

Just a sorta unrelated question:
Is there any iq requirements to join the army?

no idea, but i think as long as you can follow order, pass boot camp and able to fire rifle you are in.
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
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Originally posted by: chiwawa626
I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.

Just a sorta unrelated question:
Is there any iq requirements to join the army?

I dunno. Are there any to join ATOT?
 

SarcasticDwarf

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
9,574
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Originally posted by: PipBoy
Originally posted by: chiwawa626
I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.

Just a sorta unrelated question:
Is there any iq requirements to join the army?

I dunno. Are there any to join ATOT?

After looking at this thread, I would say no
 

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
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No doubt they will all hire agents and lawyers to manage the numerous book deals, appearances and movie offers they will surely get from all this attention. Sad...
 

Ylen13

Banned
Sep 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: Rudee
No doubt they will all hire agents and lawyers to manage the numerous book deals, appearances and movie offers they will surely get from all this attention. Sad...

i am not to sure about that, anyone know what did 1991 first golfwar pow did? Did they sign any books/movie deals?
 

charrison

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
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Originally posted by: Ylen13
Originally posted by: chiwawa626
I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.

Just a sorta unrelated question:
Is there any iq requirements to join the army?

no idea, but i think as long as you can follow order, pass boot camp and able to fire rifle you are in.

You are quite mistaken on IQ requirements. Our high tech military requires people with decent intellectual skills.
 

jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
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There's lots of interesting things to report on but you know the media likes to beat to death any big news story, as the rescue of the POWs originally was big news, until we're sick of hearing about it. They want to squeeze every last drop of ratings out of it.
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
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I thought the "wrong turn theory" was debunked when they were interviewed after their rescue? I thought they said their vehicle had broken down.

 

LilBlinbBlahIce

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: charrison
Originally posted by: Ylen13
Originally posted by: chiwawa626
I think he told driver to make a left turn instead of right and that is when the problem started.

Just a sorta unrelated question:
Is there any iq requirements to join the army?

no idea, but i think as long as you can follow order, pass boot camp and able to fire rifle you are in.

You are quite mistaken on IQ requirements. Our high tech military requires people with decent intellectual skills.

Translation: They have to pass high school at some point and be able to read.
As for the POW's I don't understand the fan fare either, getting caught is not something to be proud of. Save the kudos for the people who fought and made it back unscathed.
 

UltraQuiet

Banned
Sep 22, 2001
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Translation: They have to pass high school at some point and be able to read.
As for the POW's I don't understand the fan fare either, getting caught is not something to be proud of. Save the kudos for the people who fought and made it back unscathed.

You're both ignorant and a tool.
 

LilBlinbBlahIce

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Translation: They have to pass high school at some point and be able to read.
As for the POW's I don't understand the fan fare either, getting caught is not something to be proud of. Save the kudos for the people who fought and made it back unscathed.

You're both ignorant and a tool.

Thanks for your brilliant analysis of my intellectual persona. Are you part of our militay intelligence?
 

UltraQuiet

Banned
Sep 22, 2001
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Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Translation: They have to pass high school at some point and be able to read.
As for the POW's I don't understand the fan fare either, getting caught is not something to be proud of. Save the kudos for the people who fought and made it back unscathed.

You're both ignorant and a tool.

Thanks for your brilliant analysis of my intellectual persona. Are you part of our militay intelligence?

Well it's good to see that you're not going to compound your idiocy with a denial but my analysis of you would never include the word "intellectual".

As to your question. No, I'm not. I'm just someone that doesn't mind pointing out when someone is being an ignorant tool. Your "translation" and your "getting caught is not something to be proud of" statements prove your ignorance and the fact that you would publish them on a public message board proves that you're a tool.
 

LilBlinbBlahIce

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
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Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Translation: They have to pass high school at some point and be able to read.
As for the POW's I don't understand the fan fare either, getting caught is not something to be proud of. Save the kudos for the people who fought and made it back unscathed.

You're both ignorant and a tool.

Thanks for your brilliant analysis of my intellectual persona. Are you part of our militay intelligence?

Well it's good to see that you're not going to compound your idiocy with a denial but my analysis of you would never include the word "intellectual".

As to your question. No, I'm not. I'm just someone that doesn't mind pointing out when someone is being an ignorant tool. Your "translation" and your "getting caught is not something to be proud of" statements prove your ignorance and the fact that you would publish them on a public message board proves that you're a tool.

Wow, how does me saying that most people in the army, save the officers, have at best a high school education make me ignorant? Do you have proof otherwise? And as you obvisouly don't know, the maintainance convoy that got ambushed took a wrong turn and got lost, which constitutes a mistake. Hence me saying that they made a mistake. Pull your head out of you ass.

 

UltraQuiet

Banned
Sep 22, 2001
5,755
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Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Originally posted by: LilBlinbBlahIce
Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Translation: They have to pass high school at some point and be able to read.
As for the POW's I don't understand the fan fare either, getting caught is not something to be proud of. Save the kudos for the people who fought and made it back unscathed.

You're both ignorant and a tool.

Thanks for your brilliant analysis of my intellectual persona. Are you part of our militay intelligence?

Well it's good to see that you're not going to compound your idiocy with a denial but my analysis of you would never include the word "intellectual".

As to your question. No, I'm not. I'm just someone that doesn't mind pointing out when someone is being an ignorant tool. Your "translation" and your "getting caught is not something to be proud of" statements prove your ignorance and the fact that you would publish them on a public message board proves that you're a tool.

Wow, how does me saying that most people in the army, save the officers, have at best a high school education make me ignorant? Do you have proof otherwise? And as you obvisouly don't know, the maintainance convoy that got ambushed took a wrong turn and got lost, which constitutes a mistake. Hence me saying that they made a mistake. Pull your head out of you ass.

You need to pull you head out of your ass because that is not even close to what you said. Go back and re-read what you posted. What you posted this time and what you originally posted bear absolutely no resemblance to each other further confirming my "analysis of your persona".

 

Tripleshot

Elite Member
Jan 29, 2000
7,218
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We need heros. Media needs revenue. Heros provide media revenue. Capitilism, I guess.

Those "POW's" where doing there jobs just like the 1000's who didn't get caught. there are probably more worthy soldiers that should get that acclaim, but they are the unsung heros that just go quitely about there business and don't become "POW's".

Kinda sad, isn't it? But politicians have to have something to prop up their re election bids. And Fox, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, will all milk it for every penny.

Isn't America wonderful?:D