Printed on August 27, 2007
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Locked Up Abroad: Sierra Leone
Major Phil Ashby attempted to disarm child soldiers in Sierra Leone, but as the country erupts into chaos, he became the personal target of an angry rebel warlord.
Did you see the show or read Phil's online interview? What do you think about his story?
11 Replies
August 5, 2009 10:27 PM
I can hear the contempt for the UN in his voice and, I have to say, everything he feels is justified. What a useless and corrupt organization run by a bunch of beurocrats with personal agendas.
August 5, 2009 11:14 PM
I wonder whatever happened to the Kenyans when he fled the camp?
August 6, 2009 1:55 AM
That's what I'm wondering. From the show it looks like the Kenyans helped keep the "other" UN guys alive. It would be nice if we would know what became of those guys.
August 6, 2009 4:23 AM
The other guys weren't allowed to carry guns. I'm guessing the whole compound wasn't well-armed. I would like to know, but perhaps Gbao cut his losses and ran.
August 13, 2009 2:51 AM
Me too. Sometimes I feel like this show needs to be longer just to at least tie in some loose ends. I'd also like to know if the other guys suffered from the disease Major Phil contracted.
I have to say this was one of my favorite episodes. I really love the scene when the UN guys are running to the Kenyan "fort". That was brilliantly photographed.
Does NAT Geo used the same DP?
August 6, 2009 1:27 AM
I know infamazz. I bet as an Army Major, he didn't feel comfortable being unarmed in the first place. When the Norwegian Officer was killed, he must have just regretted the whole affair. I felt sorry for the guy.
August 6, 2009 4:50 AM
"I was going to have to silence an innocent kid in order to keep our position from being given away," said the Major as he and the others were treking thru the jungle and came upon some village kid playing.
If he meant knife the kid, that would be murder. You can't kill an innocent kid to save your own skin.
August 6, 2009 8:41 AM
rodomonte, no it's not. In Somalia, the American soldiers routinely shot and women and children who were giving away the soldier's position. I believe once they start doing that, they are no longer considered innocent. Besides, remember what he said about all the children carrying guns too? How do you know they were innocent?
I believe in this situation, they weren't much concerned about the consequences of killing anyone. Consider how many lives Phil saved by reporting the incident and testifying against Gbao at his war crimes trial? It's a shame people like you don't think with your brain, instead of your emotions.
August 6, 2009 10:51 AM
What sort of organization responds to a request for military assistance from unarmed observers with "stand and fight"? Apparently the UN is such an organization. "Thanks for all your help, but you are on your own!" Why could the UN not send a helicopter gunship or armor protected UN troops to secure the release of the Major and his extremely outnumbered and outgunned crew? The UN is an impotent organization that has lived well beyond its ability to be effective and should never be called upon to serve in a military capacity. Outrageous!!!
August 7, 2009 3:25 AM
Did the UN even have any kind of machine guns to repel invaders? Not the assault rifles, machine guns like the ones mounted on trucks and stuff like that?
The fact that these guys got overrun so easily and couldn't even carry guns was pathetic. If Phil was an American, we would have wised up within 10 minutes. He was polite and dealt with the bull until it got too ridiculous.
No wonder Bush didn't respect the UN before the US went to war with Iraq. I don't blame him, they're morons.
November 18, 2009 7:25 PM
Anyone have any idea why I keep seeing "Locked Up Abroad is now available On-Demand" commercials and it ISN'T??
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