Cowards Strike Again

sans nom · #1 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 07:10 PM

Paul Johnson, U.S. Contractor in Saudi Arabia, has been beheaded by the cowardly terrorists.
War is one thing. It is something that I can "accept". This action is not war...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,123030,00.html

Joshua · #2 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 07:14 PM

Depravity reigns,

Bladestunner316 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 08:10 PM

You know its bad and sad to see a life end. But in some ways im not sorry for him because he knew the risks going in there for that big tax free money. But alltogether it is sad that any life must be taken away.

blade

Scott Bushey · #4 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 09:17 PM

It is always sad when civilians are involved.........on either side.

sailorswife · #5 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 09:40 PM

[quote:1e3cad5329][i:1e3cad5329]Originally posted by Bladestunner316[/i:1e3cad5329]
You know its bad and sad to see a life end. But in some ways im not sorry for him because he knew the risks going in there for that big tax free money. But alltogether it is sad that any life must be taken away.

blade [/quote:1e3cad5329]

This guy was in Saudia Arabia, not Iraq, so I don't know if he was getting the "big tax free money", anyway, he was just doing his job. It is a terrible terrible thing to see how inhumane the terrorist are. The thing that really gets me is how the terrorist want to bargain with his life, like we would ever give into their demands, I think it is a ploy just to make us look bad.

Bladestunner316 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 09:56 PM

I dont think we need muslims to make us look bad we do a pretty good job oursleves. Whether or not it was tax free obviouselly you should take in the risks of doing that job in suadi arabia as opposed to index,wa.

He must of known that there was this war going on and that the risk was losing his life while doing that work there. Especially being an american,when our governement has told americans to leave saudi arabia.

But life ebing killed is sad in and of itself.

blade

sailorswife · #7 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 10:12 PM

Yes, it does just make me all the more angry with the guards at the Abu prison who have egged of these killers. I know they already hate us but they just gave them more fuel for the fire.

About your comment though Nathan, what do you think we should do. Do you think every American should leave the Middle East? Are we suppose to let the terrorists win?

blhowes · #8 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 10:28 PM

Pray for the family. I can only imagine how tough it must be for them.

Bladestunner316 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 10:46 PM

sailorswife,
This is a tough question to answer. No we dont let the enemy win. The enemy has allready lost the battle just waitne on the Lord to clean up the mess. Thing is is that this war isnt two faced. We need to eliminate muslim extremists and all radical extremists. We need to get rid of our leaders who have in anytime supported these men. But didnt we let the terrorist win by not saving that mans life? I know we dont bargain with trroroists but what do you tell the familys how have people over there 'Im sorry'. what we need to do is ban Islamic fundementalism fomr our country and neo-nazis. We need to get rid of the patriot act. We dont fight for freedom by getting rid of our own freedom. We need to reform our DOD and Intelligence community.

There is so much that has needed to be done but our country wont do it because we are on our last leg and our doomsday clock is up.

blade

Learner · #10 (**permalink**) 06-18-2004, 11:23 PM

Nathan,some of your points are well taken.However,you should try to stay informed with National Review,Weekly Standard,Human Events for starters.These are not Christian in content but worthy of examining.

Bladestunner316 · #11 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 01:48 AM

:thumbup:

sans nom · #12 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 02:20 AM

[quote:cde076c232][i:cde076c232]Originally posted by Bladestunner316[/i:cde076c232]
You know its bad and sad to see a life end. But in some ways im not sorry for him because he knew the risks going in there for that big tax free money. But alltogether it is sad that any life must be taken away.

blade [/quote:cde076c232]

I have to be honest. Your comment annoyed me a great deal. Mr. Johnson was in Saudi Arabia for ten years. You don't uproot your life for that long simply for the money. He went becuase his career took him there. His career took him there because the work is important.

When you say, "he knew the risks going in there for that big tax free money" you make him sound like a mercenary. I benefited from the tax breaks when I was in the Marines. But, I didn't join the Marines and go to the Gulf for the tax break. That would be ridiculous.

Please respect the dead, and those who are willing to serve their nation.

BrianLanier · #13 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 02:28 AM

[quote:8573535d75][i:8573535d75]Originally posted by matthew[/i:8573535d75]
[quote:8573535d75][i:8573535d75]Originally posted by Bladestunner316[/i:8573535d75]
You know its bad and sad to see a life end. But in some ways im not sorry for him because he knew the risks going in there for that big tax free money. But alltogether it is sad that any life must be taken away.

blade [/quote:8573535d75]

I have to be honest. Your comment annoyed me a great deal. Mr. Johnson was in Saudi Arabia for ten years. You don't uproot your life for that long simply for the money. He went becuase his career took him there. His career took him there because the work is important.

When you say, "he knew the risks going in there for that big tax free money" you make him sound like a mercenary. I benefited from the tax breaks when I was in the Marines. But, I didn't join the Marines and go to the Gulf for the tax break. That would be ridiculous.

Please respect the dead, and those who are willing to serve their nation. [/quote:8573535d75]

I must say I agree. Honestly, those comments did not sit right with me either. This was definately a tragedy. May his family be comforted.

Bladestunner316 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 12:36 PM

listen fella's I in know way dont respect the dead here. But I think your missing the point. My point is as the media portrays he is not a hero he was a man who did a job to make a living.

You dont go to saudia arabia as a white american working for a big business from america without out realizing that there are greater chances incidents like this will happen.

Same goes with signing up with the military you dont sign up thinkning your never going to go to war. If you dot think that your not that bright.

Look thorough my posts did I disrespect him? NO.

I just stated what this fact.

blade

Bladestunner316 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 01:10 PM

Also I was thinking about this and Im not necessarily apologizing for my opinion on this but If I came off in the wrong way and offened anyone here. I didnt mean to.

blade

#16 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 07:03 PM

I hate to say it, but America, welcome to the real world. Europe has lived with terrorism for generations, particularly the UK. There is no reason nor explanation for what happens. But it does happen, and will happen until THAT DAY.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

pastorway · #17 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 08:51 PM

Blade, you do need to educate yourself. This man was a contractor with Lockheed and he was doing his job. He had lived there 10 years. You need to listen to what others are telling you and give proper honor to an innocent man who died simply because he was an American.

There may be a threat against Americans overseas, but the reality of the whole matter is that the murder rate in Washington DC is higher than any European or Middle Eastern city. Add to that the murders that have taken place in other large cities in the US and we find out that it is more dangerous to live here than overseas!!!

Even in Baghdad the murder rate has fallen. Before the current military operations, the murder rate in Baghdad was one of the highest in the world. Now it is more safe in Iraq than in New York! Here are the numbers at the end of 2003:

Number of Murders per 100,000 population

Baghdad - 6
New York - 7
Boston - 10
Los Angeles - 17
Philadelphia - 19
Chicago - 22
Washington DC - 46

Don't let the media fool you. While it is dangerous for Americans on many places in the world, sometimes it is our own back yard that is the worst!

Phillip

ChristianasJourney · #18 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 09:33 PM

At least some of Mr. Johnsons killers were killed...not that we should be happy when anyone is killed, but I have to admit to some satisfaction in reading that.

I'm equally angry at 60 Minutes for their "expose." Not that I'm for the mistreatment of prisoners...there are other ways and other avenues to handle it, though. I somehow question 60 Minutes sincerity in airing the piece, and tend to believe it was more politcally/ratings motivated, then to help a few prisoners. I thought it was stupid, yes STUPID, to air it while an American hostage was being held prisoner, and whose life was at stake. It didn't take a genius to see what was going to happen. That single broadcast has caused the cruel death of two Americans, and likely will lead to more.
:flaming:

sailorswife · #19 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 09:53 PM

[quote:68a61f9415][i:68a61f9415]Originally posted by Bladestunner316[/i:68a61f9415]
But didnt we let the terrorist win by not saving that mans life? I know we dont bargain with trroroists but what do you tell the familys how have people over there 'Im sorry'.

blade [/quote:68a61f9415]

We did not let the terrorists win by not giving into their demands, if we had released the prisoners they wanted to bargain for then they would have won. If we had done so that would have opened the floodgates to further kidnappings, we are protecting others from these attacks by not bargaining.

ChristianasJourney · #20 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 10:14 PM

Pastor Way,

You make a good point, "news" can only be understood when we have something to compare it to.

The first hostage was beheaded in Iraq and it was a terrible thing...and all Bush's fault, and all because we had invaded Iraq. And we need to get out of there, and how many more killings can we stand, etc., etc., etc.,

A week later three children were beheaded in Baltimore, but nobody was up in arms, or blamed the police chief for allowing it to happen, or said how we should get out of there.

I grew up a mile away from Detroit, when during the 70's and 80's Detroit used to be the "Murder capital" of the nation. Consider this piece from the Det. News last Oct.

[quote:77c223a3bf]
The violent death rate in Detroit over this [30 year] period-17,000 killed out of a population of one million-is greater than that of Lebanon during its civil war, when 44,000 died out of a population of nearly four million. The rate is higher than in the 20-year civil war in Sri Lanka, in which an estimated 64,000 have died out of a population of 19 million. The death toll in Detroit is five times the number killed in Northern Ireland during the same period of time-3,300 people out of a population half again as large as Detroit's.

While Perkins hails the current year's projected murder toll of 300 as a "30 percent reduction in the homicide rate," this total is larger than the number killed in all but one year of "the troubles" in Northern Ireland. And similar figures could be produced for other large American cities-New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia.

[/quote:77c223a3bf]

In a pop. of less than 1 million people (I seem to recall the last census figures being between 800,000-900,000) 183 people have been murdered in the city since the beginning of the year. That's about 1 a day.

And while I'm on a role, and venting. Did anyone find it funny the week before Memorial Day, that while decrying the Bush Admin. for not doing anything to prevent 9-11, the papers were at the same time discrediting Ashcroft because he raised the terror alert level for Memorial Day weekend, and papers expressed doubt about the reliablity of Ashcroft's sources.

Craig · #21 (**permalink**) 06-19-2004, 11:43 PM

Blade-
I imagine you show as much sympathy to Christian missionaries when they're killed in other countries?

I wish you were as forgiving towards America's indescretions as you are to a muderous oppressive culture.

Bladestunner316 · #22 (**permalink**) 06-20-2004, 12:40 AM

Pastorway and craig,
Im getting a little sick of this word twisting here. If you would have read my posts you would see that I do have all the sympathy for this gentlman.

but you seem to foget something all I was saying is that we should not glorify him despite how gruesome his death was and how sad it is to lose a life.

The media does a great job. in a sense he was innocent just doing his job. But in another sense he was not innocent he was a target to ebgin with an american who was white, and working on weapons which would be used against al qaida(good thing) but come on hear you see something.

so he was innocent in respect to just doing a job and not a soldier per se. But not innocent since he had three strikes againts him being a in a war torn area and muslim area. especially if he was working on weapons.

Im sorry brothers If again and again you dont see what Im saying you are frustrating me here. I never disrespected this man. Im sorry he had to die for nothing. Its to bad.

So please im sorry that he had to die. Im sorry he had to die in that fashion. Im sorry he had to die for just being an american and not for being a Christian unless it was said otherwise.

To say I dont have sympathy for missionaires is just ******* low craig. I make one point and it gets completely blown out of proportion. Dont just jump on me for nothing here Im symplathetic OK!!!!

blade

sans nom · #23 (**permalink**) 06-20-2004, 12:46 AM

[quote:deb11b15b6][i:deb11b15b6]Originally posted by Craig[/i:deb11b15b6]
Blade-
I imagine you show as much sympathy to Christian missionaries when they're killed in other countries?
[/quote:deb11b15b6]

Ditto. Should we not mourn the cop who is killed in the line of duty? He knew the risks. Or the women who is killed in the car accident. She should have known it was dangerous to go on the road.

Mr. Johnson was surely aware of the risks, and he took them. But, he didn't take them for the fun of it. It was his job.

Blade wrote:
[i:deb11b15b6]He must of known that there was this war going on and that the risk was losing his life while doing that work there. Especially being an american,when our governement has told americans to leave saudi arabia.[/i:deb11b15b6]

As at least two people have said, he was there for ten years. He wasn't some guy just walking around Saudi. He was there for his job. It doesn't matter if the U.S. government was warning citizens to leave S.A. He was not an ordinary citizen. He was a contractor needed in the region. The government was not evacuating itself, but rather people who didn't need to be there.

With all due respect; please think things through before posting

*This post was written before the previous post had been posted. -Matthew

[Edited on 6-20-2004 by matthew]