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[omegabsw]

Ok chaps, I know everyone is not going to agree with me here but......

It was their choice to live and work over there, make no mistake anyone worth their salt knows of Libya's history.

So when things did go tits up and they finally did get out of the country why all the media attention like they were returning heros?

It annoys me because they are well off with great jobs, not over there on a peace keeping or an aid mission.
My thoughts on this matter is the same as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
If you are stupid enough to work over in these places as a civilian then expect the worse!

Sorry, Rant over!

Sorry, but totally disagree.

Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I believe that UK citizenship entitles you to protection by your home country wherever you are and for whatever reason.

As every other country treats its citizens. 

Very broad statement there[/quote

I cant, As I cant be 100% sure

But I bet there are plenty of African and Asian countries that would have bigger things to worry about then to charter a plane to go and pick up a couple of middle class toffs from their little "adventure" abroad

I know that I am taking things out of context but you very much are as well. I think the U.K goverment have done more then say the Somali or Ethiopian goverments would have done.

A lot of these people were not put there by our goverment, they chose to work and live in Libya

[Varche]

Ok chaps, I know everyone is not going to agree with me here but......

It was their choice to live and work over there, make no mistake anyone worth their salt knows of Libya's history.

So when things did go tits up and they finally did get out of the country why all the media attention like they were returning heros?

It annoys me because they are well off with great jobs, not over there on a peace keeping or an aid mission.
My thoughts on this matter is the same as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
If you are stupid enough to work over in these places as a civilian then expect the worse!

Sorry, Rant over!

True they choose to do the work in these places. My brother in law worked in Libya for a few years and I am sure he would have a suitable rebuttal for your comments. Suffice to say he made a lot of sacrifices for the money he made. Work conditions were poor, not much time off back home with his family, nothing to do, poor food, no alcohol,  heat intolerable, internal flights by pilots that had been banned from piloting in civilised countries, planes that broke down IN flight and so on.

However the point is that he and others like it are well paid because the host country and the exploration company (not necessarily Libyan) needs their skills to get oil, gas or whatever out of the ground. Then WE get to use the oil that comes out. Without these foreign nationals oil extraction just wouldn't be anything like as efficient.

the media attention is another thing altogether. Not the fault of the expats but the greed of the media companies making money from any story they can run and big up. Britain is a country obsessed with celebs.

[omegabsw]

Ok chaps, I know everyone is not going to agree with me here but......

It was their choice to live and work over there, make no mistake anyone worth their salt knows of Libya's history.

So when things did go tits up and they finally did get out of the country why all the media attention like they were returning heros?

It annoys me because they are well off with great jobs, not over there on a peace keeping or an aid mission.
My thoughts on this matter is the same as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
If you are stupid enough to work over in these places as a civilian then expect the worse!

Sorry, Rant over!

True they choose to do the work in these places. My brother in law worked in Libya for a few years and I am sure he would have a suitable rebuttal for your comments. Suffice to say he made a lot of sacrifices for the money he made. Work conditions were poor, not much time off back home with his family, nothing to do, poor food, no alcohol,  heat intolerable, internal flights by pilots that had been banned from piloting in civilised countries, planes that broke down IN flight and so on.

However the point is that he and others like it are well paid because the host country and the exploration company (not necessarily Libyan) needs their skills to get oil, gas or whatever out of the ground. Then WE get to use the oil that comes out. Without these foreign nationals oil extraction just wouldn't be anything like as efficient.

the media attention is another thing altogether. Not the fault of the expats but the greed of the media companies making money from any story they can run and big up. Britain is a country obsessed with celebs.

I think that about sums my frustration with the whole thing up.

At the end of the day as you say, we all make choices. Should the goverment be blamed for the odd few that make bad ones?

And they are nearly all home safely, whats the problem? We cant click our fingers and teleport them home in seconds

[Vamps]

Ok chaps, I know everyone is not going to agree with me here but......

It was their choice to live and work over there, make no mistake anyone worth their salt knows of Libya's history.

So when things did go tits up and they finally did get out of the country why all the media attention like they were returning heros?

It annoys me because they are well off with great jobs, not over there on a peace keeping or an aid mission.
My thoughts on this matter is the same as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
If you are stupid enough to work over in these places as a civilian then expect the worse!

Sorry, Rant over!

Sorry, but totally disagree.

Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I believe that UK citizenship entitles you to protection by your home country wherever you are and for whatever reason.

As every other country treats its citizens. 

Very broad statement there[/quote

I cant, As I cant be 100% sure

But I bet there are plenty of African and Asian countries that would have bigger things to worry about then to charter a plane to go and pick up a couple of middle class toffs from their little "adventure" abroad

I know that I am taking things out of context but you very much are as well. I think the U.K goverment have done more then say the Somali or Ethiopian goverments would have done.

A lot of these people were not put there by our goverment, they chose to work and live in Libya

Enjoying a nice Tax free Salary with the benefit of popping home for NHS, Pension or Benefits......

[omegabsw]

Ok chaps, I know everyone is not going to agree with me here but......

It was their choice to live and work over there, make no mistake anyone worth their salt knows of Libya's history.

So when things did go tits up and they finally did get out of the country why all the media attention like they were returning heros?

It annoys me because they are well off with great jobs, not over there on a peace keeping or an aid mission.
My thoughts on this matter is the same as Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.
If you are stupid enough to work over in these places as a civilian then expect the worse!

Sorry, Rant over!

Sorry, but totally disagree.

Call me old-fashioned if you like, but I believe that UK citizenship entitles you to protection by your home country wherever you are and for whatever reason.

As every other country treats its citizens. 

Very broad statement there[/quote

I cant, As I cant be 100% sure

But I bet there are plenty of African and Asian countries that would have bigger things to worry about then to charter a plane to go and pick up a couple of middle class toffs from their little "adventure" abroad

I know that I am taking things out of context but you very much are as well. I think the U.K goverment have done more then say the Somali or Ethiopian goverments would have done.

A lot of these people were not put there by our goverment, they chose to work and live in Libya

Enjoying a nice Tax free Salary with the benefit of popping home for NHS, Pension or Benefits......

Thank you!

Im not an internet troll or a hatemonger, im just fed up with the whole "The world owes me a living" view that we have in this country!

[Banjax]

i agree with omegabsw - they knew the risks, let them or their companies charter flights to get them out - they're foreign nationals taking money out of a corrupt and oppressive regime - the upside is the huge pay, the reason is its dangerous - dont take the money if you cant handle it, and dont bitch about it when it all goes pete tong

[Vamps]

i agree with omegabsw - they knew the risks, let them or their companies charter flights to get them out - they're foreign nationals taking money out of a corrupt and oppressive regime - the upside is the huge pay, the reason is its dangerous - dont take the money if you cant handle it, and dont bitch about it when it all goes pete tong

I agree totally and not really into politics, most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries and should accept the risk that goes with the pay / job.

Declare your income and pay UK taxes etc to be part of the norm, anything else just reinforces the mercenary attitude and should be treated as such, imho....take your money, take your chance....seemples...

[Lizzie_Zoom]

i agree with omegabsw - they knew the risks, let them or their companies charter flights to get them out - they're foreign nationals taking money out of a corrupt and oppressive regime - the upside is the huge pay, the reason is its dangerous - dont take the money if you cant handle it, and dont bitch about it when it all goes pete tong

I agree totally and not really into politics, most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries and should accept the risk that goes with the pay / job.

Declare your income and pay UK taxes etc to be part of the norm, anything else just reinforces the mercenary attitude and should be treated as such, imho....take your money, take your chance....seemples...

I agree with all these comments.

You take the money and accept the risks

[Nickbat]

i agree with omegabsw - they knew the risks, let them or their companies charter flights to get them out - they're foreign nationals taking money out of a corrupt and oppressive regime - the upside is the huge pay, the reason is its dangerous - dont take the money if you cant handle it, and dont bitch about it when it all goes pete tong

I agree totally and not really into politics, most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries and should accept the risk that goes with the pay / job.

Declare your income and pay UK taxes etc to be part of the norm, anything else just reinforces the mercenary attitude and should be treated as such, imho....take your money, take your chance....seemples...

I agree with all these comments.

You take the money and accept the risks

Some of the comments on here would be funny were they not tragic.

"most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries"

Huh? How many are working for UK companies to further UK interests? How many are on short-term contracts and thus still subject to UK taxes? How many are visiting relatives? How many are volunteers?

You don't know the answer to any of these questions, yet still like to portray them all as 'mercenaries'. Besides which, even if they are living as ex-pats, they still enjoy (in my world) the protection of their mother country.

"Take your money, take your chance."  A puerile comment to make in the light of the very real personal danger these people are facing.

Sheesh.

[Banjax]

i agree with omegabsw - they knew the risks, let them or their companies charter flights to get them out - they're foreign nationals taking money out of a corrupt and oppressive regime - the upside is the huge pay, the reason is its dangerous - dont take the money if you cant handle it, and dont bitch about it when it all goes pete tong

I agree totally and not really into politics, most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries and should accept the risk that goes with the pay / job.

Declare your income and pay UK taxes etc to be part of the norm, anything else just reinforces the mercenary attitude and should be treated as such, imho....take your money, take your chance....seemples...

I agree with all these comments.

You take the money and accept the risks

Some of the comments on here would be funny were they not tragic.

"most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries"

Huh? How many are working for UK companies to further UK interests? How many are on short-term contracts and thus still subject to UK taxes? How many are visiting relatives? How many are volunteers?

You don't know the answer to any of these questions, yet still like to portray them all as 'mercenaries'. Besides which, even if they are living as ex-pats, they still enjoy (in my world) the protection of their mother country.

"Take your money, take your chance."  A puerile comment to make in the light of the very real personal danger these people are facing.

Sheesh.

howcome everyones a capitilist 'til it goes tits up then their bleating for their own society to bail them out? live by the dollar, die by the dollar - harsh but fair - if not for the filthy lucre, why on earth would you live in Libya? i'll accept there may be some aid workers who deserve a free flight out of there, but the vast majority are chasing tax free cash 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I think that there are some MASSIVE generalistions going on in this thread!  and also some pretty unattractive 'Sod 'em' attitudes.....   At least they have the get up and go to try and make a better life for them and their families, and living in the developing world ain't no picnic!! It's not all G&T's by the pool!!

Having said that there no reason why they shouldn't be charged for their evacuation, because as noted many do command high salaries, but not all do... Those who do, have undoubtably worked hard to gain the qualifications and experience, more often than not here in the UK (and paid the taxes!) and are not the types who will sit around moaning, looking all green eyed at the neighbour with the MV6 on the drive!!

That's my rant over, people don't deserve to left to die in the desert.... :-?

[Lizzie_Zoom]

i agree with omegabsw - they knew the risks, let them or their companies charter flights to get them out - they're foreign nationals taking money out of a corrupt and oppressive regime - the upside is the huge pay, the reason is its dangerous - dont take the money if you cant handle it, and dont bitch about it when it all goes pete tong

I agree totally and not really into politics, most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries and should accept the risk that goes with the pay / job.

Declare your income and pay UK taxes etc to be part of the norm, anything else just reinforces the mercenary attitude and should be treated as such, imho....take your money, take your chance....seemples...

I agree with all these comments.

You take the money and accept the risks

Some of the comments on here would be funny were they not tragic.

"most of these guys are the equivalent to commercial mercenaries"

Huh? How many are working for UK companies to further UK interests? How many are on short-term contracts and thus still subject to UK taxes? How many are visiting relatives? How many are volunteers?

You don't know the answer to any of these questions, yet still like to portray them all as 'mercenaries'. Besides which, even if they are living as ex-pats, they still enjoy (in my world) the protection of their mother country.

"Take your money, take your chance."  A puerile comment to make in the light of the very real personal danger these people are facing.

Sheesh.

There you go again Nick, my opinion that's all, but because you do not agree with it you insult it!   You don't change!

In any job there is always an element of being paid to reflect your responsibilities, and in some specialist areas to reflect the personal dangers you face.  This has been the case since certainly capitalism got off the ground, and is accepted by those in such positions.

When in the armed forces, or working on an oil rig, or perhaps being an explosives expert, let alone a someone working on any energy producing facilities in a highly volatile region, that individual most know the dangers will always be present.  The couple who sailed around Somali and were kidnapped knew the risk, but still took it.  It is all down to personal choice, and in the case of those in Libya, and other volatile regions, they are either paid accordingly, or frankly, they should be! But all these people do take the money and take their chance.

In these cases it is NOT necessarily down to the British Government (who are responsible for spending our money) to organise at tremendous cost rescue missions regardless!  It never has been throughout history, but in these modern times of the nanny state, as many have stated on here, it is "expected" by those who put themselves at great risk that they should be rescued by our armed forces, or hardware i.e. aircraft.

Yes morality must come into it, along with humanity, if a whole national group are in trouble, or an exceptional special case, as has proved the fact now, but for everyone to think the British Government, no more than USA administration for its nationals, should be automatically bailed out is wrong. 

 

[Banjax]

i've said before and will say again - every decision has a price - if you're willing to pay that price, if you think the reward is enough to risk it then go ahead go work in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan greed is good - you're making the right decision for yourself and your family, but you may pop up on a grainy film on you tube or Aljazeera with a gun at your head, but hey - its worth it right? better yet you're caught in the middle of a civil war with ironically british made missiles and bullets flying at you, but arms trades gotta make money too right? whats the problem?

[Sir Tigger KC]

I think you'll find that most expats who live in 'iffy' parts of the world, are pretty hard nosed types who will have gone into the situation with their eyes wide open, and will either have an emergency cash stash and/or a damn good insurance policy! As many people have said they've taken the money and the chance, and as I said before there's no reason why they shouldn't be charged for their repatration!

This country spends billions propping up millions who have never paid into the system, both UK citizens and foriegners.  We pay child benefit to foreigners whose kids don't even live in the UK, we pay winter fuel payments to pensioners living in hot climates, the list goes on.....

These expats arn't the sort who will come back demanding a council flat and benefits.  They'll pick themselves up, dust themselves down and will go out and find another job.  Some will head off abroad again and some won't, but IMO these are the sort of people that the UK should be helping out!!

[Varche]

Frankly I have been shocked to the core by the views of some folk on here about getting our nationals out. I can only put it down to insularity ( To spell that out pull up the drawbridges and man the battlements and keep Johnny Foreigner OUT of our precious little isle)

I can guarantee that no other country will have its forums full of folk saying we shouldn't have "rescued" our guys, let em rot, they are mercenaries so they can shoot their own way out, they chose that lifestyle etc etc. No what those countries have is a strong sense of National Pride and they just get on and do the right thing for their nationals. If the Israelis had had folk there they would have been the first to get them out. Sadly Britain just doesn't seem to have that sort of pride in itself.

As to the cost Ryanair can send a plane from Britain to Southern Spain and back and make a profit on £70 a head  , so say £45,000 round trip. Absolute peanuts compared with the waste every day in government depts, food bought and binned because it has reached its sell by date. 

As for my brother in law. He did his time on the oilfields, used the money to pay off a chunk of his mortgage and now works in Britain still paying tax and contributing to the economy. I can't see anything wrong with that.