Kenneth Bigley - finding this so, so distressing

[Tinker]

Am finding myself thinking a lot about what this poor man and his family must be going through. Absolutely hideous terror. Really couldn't sleep last night, kept dwelling on it.

did any of you hear about Billy Connolly? - sick!

???

I did hear about the Billy Connolly thing. Didn't hear the 'joke' but heard that quite a few walked out

I heard about him He's too far up his own a* these days IMO. I bet he couldn't stand there and watch it happen though?

he was in the news for making a very sick joke about Kenneth Bigley at one of his shows - the audience needless to say were not impressed. According to news reports an audience member shouted to Billy that it was someones life he was joking about and Billy's retort was FO! - charming. I could do the link but I don't know whether its appropriate - if you want to read it - try Google.

When I heard about the bombing of the wedding party this morning must admit to thinking KB's chances were pretty slim then

throckenholt, Billy connolly said about Bigley something on the lines of 'does anyone else just wish they'd get on with it?'

what a hornets nest they've opened up with this damned war!

Billy Connolly cracked a joke about Kenneth Bigley (I quote) "Don't you just wish they would get on with it". He also mentioned about him having a Thai bride who did not speak any English. Strange it may be but that is the least of anyone's worries and I hope Billy Connolly has not got his wish.

ah - missed that.

I tend to feel we should get out and leave them to it - but I guess it is not that simple - the radical terror groups are not inclined to leave anyone to it, anywhere.

that's true throckenholt. There's probably an awful lot we don't know about and to be honest ignorance is bliss at times

Sadly, latest is this: story

grim!

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His family were trying to get across the fact that his mother is Irish as the group holding him see Irish people as having been oppressed by the English so kind of fellow-sufferers (that's their view, not mine). Think the Irish government did give him a passport in the last few days in an attempt to convince kidnappers.

Socci, Ireland has a long history of political neutrality in international armed conflict, and therefore its nationals tend to be less often targeted by kidnappers etc - Ireland does not share Britain's colonial past and is seen by many to have endured centuries of oppression by the British government.
Just guessing as to why the Irish nationality might have helped the poor guy.

posts crossed Edam!

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Have often wondered whether I should apply for an Irish passport - think I'm eligible

It used to be a hindrance Tinker - when I was living in France the British customs used to hoick all the Irish students travelling home with me and go through their luggage ffs. This was back in the 80s when the IRA bombings were still taking place. They were remarkably patient and courteous about this (the students not the customs officers).
My mum got her passport sorted finally (she is half Irish half Scots and like you eligible for both) and she is proud to have an Irish passport.

Don't really know what their stance is on Korea, but they are trying to intimidate all Westerners so there will be nobody with the specialist skills to repair infrastructure. Think they held Filipinos hostage until their government withdrew - and since when has the Phillipines been any threat (unless I've missed something)?

Yes, that's true Marina. Can't comment on Customs officers though

And did they not also murder some Nepalis? Agree that the majority of these terrorists are just targetting anyone non-Iraqi.

(off topic) eek Tinker! sorry.

I just wondered - don't Iraq have their own construction industry/workers? If the west could help financially and with information couldn't the Iraqis rebuild their own country - they're trying to get people back in work aren't they - or am I being too simplistic?