'We have to fight to a safe haven' - Mike Bloss

[dArKeR]

The last message Mike Bloss sent from Iraq was earnest but optimistic. The ex-paratrooper and the electrical engineers he was guarding were surrounded by gunmen. Escape seemed improbable. And yet the Welsh security guard sounded confident that he could shoot a way out.

"We are expecting to be overrun tonight," he e-mailed friends in Colorado. "We may have to fight our way to a safe haven. Unfortunately all the safe havens are already under attack ... We'll probably be OK! I'll e-mail when I'm safe."

Bloss didn't send another e-mail. He managed to keep the assailants at bay long enough to enable the contractors he was protecting to escape. But he was killed in a gun battle -- and with him a little more of what optimism is left in Iraq.

On the first anniversary of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the country was in the grip of mayhem and insurgency, Bloss was one of at least a dozen people to die at the hands of insurgents across the country on Friday.

An international hostage crisis was deepening, meanwhile, with the seizure by Sunni insurgents outside Baghdad of up to six more hostages. Their nationality was unclear though some captors said a number of Italians were being held. Two others, according to varying reports, were either American or British.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=33984&t=1

[dArKeR]

1. EX-PARA KILLED IN IRAQ

A hero British guard was shot dead in Iraq as he saved civilian workers in a gun battle.

Ex-Para Michael Bloss, 38, single-handedly held off attackers, allowing the workers to flee before he was cut down. His death emerged yesterday as Iraq erupted.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=14135209&method=full&siteid=50143

[jmcgowanjm]

2. "We are expecting to be overrun tonight,"

Jesus, This doesn't sound like Vietnam?

No reinforcements, What the Fuck?

Are we in control anywhere?

[Dark]

4. The oil Derricks

But I know what you mean. Yea, it's going to hell in a handbasket. The only solution I see is to bring in the UN. If we abandon them, a civil war will break out, more Iraqis will blame the US and we'll have more terrorists. If we stay by ourselves. . .those poor servicemen.

[amandabeech]

5. "I love the smell of naplam in the morning!"

"We had to destroy the village in order to save it."

The new twist in Iraq seems to be the use of kidnapping.

I'm getting really queasy.

[dArKeR]

6. 'allowing the workers to flee' to where?

[Philosophy]

7. Mercs don't get reinforcements

It's not like they can call in airstrikes.

[amandabeech]

9. Perhaps soon they'll be able to call in airstrikes.

Just as soon as Blackwater and others can obtain the equipment, a makeshift air base and some mercenary pilots. Hey, why should armies get all the fun. Maybe then they'll move to gunboats on the Tigris and Euphrates.

[mouse7]

3. "Does that mean Ann Margaret won't be coming?"

[amandabeech]

8. Neither will Bob Hope. n/t

[0007]

10. about the Dixie Chicks?