John Cantlie - Sonic from Fast Bikes
Discussion
king hellThis IS shocking, as has been said.
I also saw this article on the 6 o'clock news, and when I saw Cantlie's video, dressed in an orange suit, I nearly dropped my tea. In fact I was nearly sick!
I can't believe I was watching the same bloke that I have grown up with in all the bike magazines!
Bloody hell. I am sending all my best wishes his way.....but probably to no avail I fear.
This really is getting to be a hideous situation.
I also saw this article on the 6 o'clock news, and when I saw Cantlie's video, dressed in an orange suit, I nearly dropped my tea. In fact I was nearly sick!
I can't believe I was watching the same bloke that I have grown up with in all the bike magazines!
Bloody hell. I am sending all my best wishes his way.....but probably to no avail I fear.
This really is getting to be a hideous situation.
Unbelievable. I went to see him when he was a bike journo, he reviewed some performance parts I was selling. I didn't even know he was being held. I suppose I'd assumed that after his 2012 kidnap he would have chosen safer places to work. Such a nightmare for him. His odds just don't look good....horrible, horrible, horrible.
hepy said:
Thanks Guys.
Talking of back in the day bike mags, anyone know what happened to Jimarillo and Hamma from Fast Bikes....ahhh those Pulp Friction memories!
Jimarillo is on Twitter.Talking of back in the day bike mags, anyone know what happened to Jimarillo and Hamma from Fast Bikes....ahhh those Pulp Friction memories!
Hope by some form of extreme good fortune Sonic makes it back safe......
Edited by 996 sps on Friday 19th September 04:26
I have a nasty feeling that ISIS' change of tactics with Cantlie's video is just to make him a bigger story before killing him. They seem determined to provoke the biggest reaction possible, hoping to get Western boots on the ground, same strategy as Bin Laden when he escalated from embassy bombings and the Cole to the WTC.
Cantlie's aged so much in captivity - I dread to think what he's been through. Perhaps the SAS know where he is. It would be wonderful to see him rescued.
Cantlie's aged so much in captivity - I dread to think what he's been through. Perhaps the SAS know where he is. It would be wonderful to see him rescued.
Cantlie's aged so much in captivity - I dread to think what he's been through. Perhaps the SAS know where he is. It would be wonderful to see him rescued.
[/quote]
If they knew, then they'd have him out.
I do hope that for their sake that we get him out and the b'stards that executed the other hostages get what they deserve, but I suspect unless we go back in then it will be futile.
Well I'm a bit surprised by you lot.
Frankly it's hard to feel very sorry for cantlie.
I've managed to avoid getting kidnapped in a war zone like Syria by following one easy step.....DON'T GO THERE! !!
Only a complete dunce would voluntarily put themselves in that position.
To be captured once and escape with his life in 2012 after being shot whilst escaping was the biggest wake up call anyone could reasonably expect.
To then return for a second helping is not just stupid it's downright suicidal. He's barely a real journalist with no political or foreign policy reporting credentials so was serving no useful purpose on either trip. Just fuelling his adrenalin addled ego.
Even worse he's furthering the terrorist cause by providing publicity and potentially risking further western lives if a rescue mission is launched.
Surely its hard to be sympathetic for one so selfish and stupid.
Frankly it's hard to feel very sorry for cantlie.
I've managed to avoid getting kidnapped in a war zone like Syria by following one easy step.....DON'T GO THERE! !!
Only a complete dunce would voluntarily put themselves in that position.
To be captured once and escape with his life in 2012 after being shot whilst escaping was the biggest wake up call anyone could reasonably expect.
To then return for a second helping is not just stupid it's downright suicidal. He's barely a real journalist with no political or foreign policy reporting credentials so was serving no useful purpose on either trip. Just fuelling his adrenalin addled ego.
Even worse he's furthering the terrorist cause by providing publicity and potentially risking further western lives if a rescue mission is launched.
Surely its hard to be sympathetic for one so selfish and stupid.
A993LAD said:
Well I'm a bit surprised by you lot.
Frankly it's hard to feel very sorry for cantlie.
I've managed to avoid getting kidnapped in a war zone like Syria by following one easy step.....DON'T GO THERE! !!
Only a complete dunce would voluntarily put themselves in that position.
To be captured once and escape with his life in 2012 after being shot whilst escaping was the biggest wake up call anyone could reasonably expect.
To then return for a second helping is not just stupid it's downright suicidal. He's barely a real journalist with no political or foreign policy reporting credentials so was serving no useful purpose on either trip. Just fuelling his adrenalin addled ego.
Even worse he's furthering the terrorist cause by providing publicity and potentially risking further western lives if a rescue mission is launched.
Surely its hard to be sympathetic for one so selfish and stupid.
I agree.Frankly it's hard to feel very sorry for cantlie.
I've managed to avoid getting kidnapped in a war zone like Syria by following one easy step.....DON'T GO THERE! !!
Only a complete dunce would voluntarily put themselves in that position.
To be captured once and escape with his life in 2012 after being shot whilst escaping was the biggest wake up call anyone could reasonably expect.
To then return for a second helping is not just stupid it's downright suicidal. He's barely a real journalist with no political or foreign policy reporting credentials so was serving no useful purpose on either trip. Just fuelling his adrenalin addled ego.
Even worse he's furthering the terrorist cause by providing publicity and potentially risking further western lives if a rescue mission is launched.
Surely its hard to be sympathetic for one so selfish and stupid.
A993LAD said:
Well I'm a bit surprised by you lot.
Frankly it's hard to feel very sorry for cantlie.
I've managed to avoid getting kidnapped in a war zone like Syria by following one easy step.....DON'T GO THERE! !!
Only a complete dunce would voluntarily put themselves in that position.
To be captured once and escape with his life in 2012 after being shot whilst escaping was the biggest wake up call anyone could reasonably expect.
To then return for a second helping is not just stupid it's downright suicidal. He's barely a real journalist with no political or foreign policy reporting credentials so was serving no useful purpose on either trip. Just fuelling his adrenalin addled ego.
Even worse he's furthering the terrorist cause by providing publicity and potentially risking further western lives if a rescue mission is launched.
Surely its hard to be sympathetic for one so selfish and stupid.
The problem with your analysis is that Anthony Loyd, the Times' veteran foreign correspondent/war reporter began his career in the very same fashion - he just followed the action, completely self supported, and relentlessly filed reports until the editors in London gave in and published his work. That's often how you get started in that business.Frankly it's hard to feel very sorry for cantlie.
I've managed to avoid getting kidnapped in a war zone like Syria by following one easy step.....DON'T GO THERE! !!
Only a complete dunce would voluntarily put themselves in that position.
To be captured once and escape with his life in 2012 after being shot whilst escaping was the biggest wake up call anyone could reasonably expect.
To then return for a second helping is not just stupid it's downright suicidal. He's barely a real journalist with no political or foreign policy reporting credentials so was serving no useful purpose on either trip. Just fuelling his adrenalin addled ego.
Even worse he's furthering the terrorist cause by providing publicity and potentially risking further western lives if a rescue mission is launched.
Surely its hard to be sympathetic for one so selfish and stupid.
Personally, I find it quite inspiring that the guy found meaning in something rather less superficial than motorcycles.
FarQue said:
I remember the red TL-S project bike.
I remember that too - it was a really good project and he did a lot to investigate the issues with the rear suspension unit. I also recall an article where he had a ride out on it with an RC45 breakfast clubI also recall he went to the launch of the first gen SV650, and there were lots of silly pictures really selling how fun the bike could be
As for his decision to go to a war-torn country...perhaps he feels very strongly about the situation, and feels it is worth the risk to go out there and report on everything that he can. After all, if it wasnt for journalism, how much of everything would we know? How much of everything do we currently NOT know because our journalists are not in areas reporting on events (good and bad)?
Far be it from us to judge a man who feels it is his professional, and perhaps personal, duty to engage in this kind of work. There's a similar thing going on with the ebola crisis - ill doctors who have recovered are returning to continue their work.
Edited by thatdude on Wednesday 24th September 10:03
Edited by thatdude on Wednesday 24th September 10:04
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