Khalil Dale - aid worker executed by Taliban in Pakistan

[Frontpaw]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17890740

I despair of human nature. An aid worker, a humanitarian, someone of 'their faith', who was in the country trying to save lives. I fear that this story will have an effect on the donations of money to charities and scare people off volunteering to work in certain parts of the world.

I know that people are murdered every day - men, women and children - by both military and civilians, but this story - of someone who got off his bum, to go out help his fellow human beings - made me very sad. He was beheaded. How barbaric a way of taking someones life is that. To be within two or three feet of a human being, looking them in the face, and taking out a knife...

One of his friends was just on Radio 4, almost in tears, saying how 'Ken' would feel sympathy and forgiveness for his murderers.

It just gives the lie to the Islamist/Taliban/Jihadi propaganda that they are people fighting for religion and the people. They are always murderous, godless thugs controlling the people by keeping them in a state of fear, using threats torture and execution on those that disagree with their extreme views.

I don't think it will hamper charity work in the Pakistan/Afghanistan border regions. It has been highly dangerous for a long time and those involved know the risk they take. Remember Karen Woo? Linda Norgrove? Foreign aid workers like them and Khalil Dale may be pulled out but the work will carry on.

Such people always have a 'good' reason for their actions (the aid worked was trying to convert people, or infecting locals with HIV, etc etc etc...). As long as 'God told me to do it' remains an unchallenged defence, then we are stuffed.

I am worried that charities will not send foreign aid workers out to some places, and rely on locals - but often you hear of these being terrorised too because of their work (femals doctors etc). I feat that it also hardens the heart (and pockets) of those who would put money in collecting cans or send a cheque to a charity.

Their defence isn't unchallenged and locals are already terrorised but chose to soldier on. Look up the concept of 'night letters'... threatening notes, sent under cover of darkness by cowardly bastards falsely claiming to represent islam. I don't believe the people who give to charities operating in these areas are as naive or heartless as you seem to think. They know it's bandit country.... as did the late, unfortunate Mr Dale... and support them anyway

I meant 'unchallenged' as in the buggers get away with it through fear and threats. I hope people do keep up the charity work - its almost as if some people don't want this work to carry on.

His name was Khalil, not "Khalistan".

Bother this predictive text.... Of course that was his name.

Wowser. How did you change the thread title?

What is wrong with these people?

Friend of mine knew him when she was an aid worker and posted this elsewhere: 'He told me once about another mutual friend who had been in his office when someone nearby fired a high velocity rifle. The bullet went through back of guy's head and out through his mouth. I asked him what he did and he said: " I said oh fuck." And then he saved his life.' My friend said he was an amazing, wonderful man who saved many, many lives.