Discussion
Ruskie said:
Well the advise was papers at all times and not allowed out of the house whilst in Syria. I suspect the lads got bored, wandered down wrong street/area and before they knew it they were away.
TBH the security was a bit lax and alarm bells were ringing early on in Iraq. Badly fitting body armour for example, we were told “you probably won’t need it so don’t worry if it doesn’t fit”. That type of thing, and the lack of a clear contingency plan.
Cheers, interesting.TBH the security was a bit lax and alarm bells were ringing early on in Iraq. Badly fitting body armour for example, we were told “you probably won’t need it so don’t worry if it doesn’t fit”. That type of thing, and the lack of a clear contingency plan.
Ruskie said:
Whilst browsing the Syria thread I remembered I hadn’t fully updated this thread. Approximately 2 months after I got back I got a phone call informing me that here had been issues with my team when they entered Syria. I didn’t go into much detail earlier on in the thread but there were many issues not least the lack of security and contingency plans in an emergency. Having been in Mosul I was aware of the potential risks but Syria is different due to the many actors there. Anyway this is what occurred...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
I lived and worked in Damascus for 6 years up till just before the war and a (Syrian) employee of mine had a brother who was in prison. Syrian prisons were utterly horrific places when times were peaceful and I can only imagine what kind of deep hell they must be these days. Your friends/team were extremely lucky to get out in my opinion - regardless of any political pressure. I also have a friend who was politically active when Syria started to crumble. He vanished (along with a group of others) after being picked up by government forces whilst driving from the airport into the city. Never been seen or heard of since. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
MarkJS said:
Ruskie said:
Whilst browsing the Syria thread I remembered I hadn’t fully updated this thread. Approximately 2 months after I got back I got a phone call informing me that here had been issues with my team when they entered Syria. I didn’t go into much detail earlier on in the thread but there were many issues not least the lack of security and contingency plans in an emergency. Having been in Mosul I was aware of the potential risks but Syria is different due to the many actors there. Anyway this is what occurred...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
I lived and worked in Damascus for 6 years up till just before the war and a (Syrian) employee of mine had a brother who was in prison. Syrian prisons were utterly horrific places when times were peaceful and I can only imagine what kind of deep hell they must be these days. Your friends/team were extremely lucky to get out in my opinion - regardless of any political pressure. I also have a friend who was politically active when Syria started to crumble. He vanished (along with a group of others) after being picked up by government forces whilst driving from the airport into the city. Never been seen or heard of since. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-...
Two of my team went out for a walk with just passports. They were picked up by the Syrian Government forces and arrested with being spies. They were transferred to Damascus and held in prison. They were in solitary confinement in the dark for 6 weeks with only cockroaches and lice for company. One meal a day and mock executions also took place throughout the 6 weeks. One of the guys who I speak to regular was telling me the full details. He lost 45kg in weight and only at the end nearing their release were they given proper food.
Sorry for the long update but I thought it might be interesting for people to hear.
Now, just off to google visa’s requirements for Yemen.......
Ruskie said:
On the back of these experiences I am starting a new job with a De-mining charity in September. I will be travelling all over the world assisting in the management of de-mining and everything it entails. Excited, nervous and buzzing all rolled into one.
Ruskie, you don’t mess about do you! Fair play to you. Where do you hear about these opportunities? Not like they pop up on your average job site.
pidsy said:
Ruskie said:
On the back of these experiences I am starting a new job with a De-mining charity in September. I will be travelling all over the world assisting in the management of de-mining and everything it entails. Excited, nervous and buzzing all rolled into one.
Ruskie, you don’t mess about do you! Fair play to you. Where do you hear about these opportunities? Not like they pop up on your average job site.
Ruskie said:
Didn’t go down well with my nearest and dearest that I would be defusing land mines during my training
Oh that bit is easystep one place your fingers in your ears
step two close your eyes really really tight
step three adopt the right foot forward stance with your weight on your left foot
step four while sweeping your right foot from left to right repeatedly bring it down smartly in a tapping motion making sure to hit the ground with sufficient force that should it make contact with a mine it will initiate the detonator.
step five if you complete step four take one pace forward and repeat.
step six repeat step five until you reach the far side of the demarcated area.
step seven declare the area clear of all and any unexploded ordnance retired to a known safe area and change ones soiled kaks and book a flight to las vegas as you are the luckiest man on earth and will surely win big on the blackjack table.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff