agoreira

I must admit, I think along similar lines. They go to crap, risky places like Libya, Kazakhstan purely to earn big money, and they are delighted to tell us how much they are earning on their trips home, I know quite a few of them. But then when things go wrong, they think the UK should drop everything, risk other people's lives, no expense spared, just to get them out. Grateful? Not a bit, "You took your time getting us out, didn't you!"

JLFS

I have read the Mail today, and no apologies from me either, the UK are being called fit to burn over the delay in getting their people out.
Loads of comments but most seem to be miffed at the lack of action by the UK gov.


I wonder if these companies that offer big wages, tax free, living accommodation and expenses, put any thought into -"what if" things go wrong.
Surely the oil companies and others, should have people there who get a feel of the political and social situation, and should be able to forewarn their employees about any unrest that might put them in danger.

Then the wives and children at least could be shipped out to a safe haven, even if the men want to stay on and work, their risk and their risk only.
The expense should not be put on the British taxpayer, but the companies that enticed them out there in the first place.

Rotor

Most of these people work for big UK comapanies who get massive export orders which in turn boosts the UK economy.

agoreira

Agree, however these companies never pay more than they have to, and a large wage invariably entails a personal risk and/or complete boredom in some God forsaken place. When you sign up for these jobs, you know it could all go pear shaped, that's the risk you take, but greed rears it's ugly head and the money wins in the end. It's the expectation that the Armed Forces personnel (earning a fraction of their wages) are then expected to risk their lives to get them safely home that gets me. And a bit of gratitude wouldn't go amiss.

busters mum

I totally agree, you know what you sign up for

Rotor

[QUOTE=agoreira;9200737]Agree, however these companies never pay more than they have to, and a large wage invariably entails a personal risk and/or complete boredom in some God forsaken place. When you sign up for these jobs, you know it could all go pear shaped, that's the risk you take, but greed rears it's ugly head and the money wins in the end. It's the expectation that the Armed Forces personnel (earning a fraction of their wages) are then expected to risk their lives to get them safely home that gets me. And a bit of gratitude wouldn't go amiss.[/QUOTE]

Ive been a soldier and never expected or wanted gratitude , I did it for the buzz

rugbymatt

I have gotta say, I'm in agreement with the thought that these people have been having it all their own way as expats, paying no taxes and raking in money from a wanker of a leader, happy to pay the piper all these years without regret then I'm sorry, deal with the consequences yourself! Not interested.

The aid workers are a different matter, without them life in this POTENTIALLY extremely wealthy country would be shite for the common people... but of course that would never stop the oil industry workers cashing in and not giving a shit will it? Nope....

JLFS

A good point and I agree totally.

agoreira

Good for you. I also took the Queen's shilling and have been in those places on the news, Tobruk, Tripoli etc, and they couldn't pay me enough to go back to that sh1t hole of a place.

agoreira

Agree entirely, they go there for very different reasons. I take my hat off to them.

Bigger Jim

I clearly had a different experience to you albeit possibly shorter. My memories are of quite a different place even going on exercise in the desert was an experience we would find ourselves located on a perfect flat desert and I had a job repairing radios sitting in the rear door of a truck. As I sat there your eye would get drawn to a tiny bump on the horizon that would slowly grow into an Arab who would approach and start to barter sweet biscuits for compo tea. They would always get the better of the deal but so what they had a long walk back and it made for a bit more interest in the day.

There were always plenty of historic sites to visit and medinas to bargain in and we got to do it all for free.

Must be about 40 or more years that oil workers have been employed in Libya without any sign of trouble. So I think one would hardly call it a risky life till now. If there is any blame to be allotted over the extraction of civilians it should fall four square on the current government who have absolutely no idea on how to handle a crisis of this magnitude or crisis any at all.

Unfortunately, to my great regret I voted for them.

Jim

anonimouse

Look at which posts you can see the green eyed monster in here.

agoreira

I can't remember anything remotely interesting around Tobruk, and when I think of how many died there, tragic. The only things of any interest in a sea of sand, were the various war graves. Hats off to them, they do a good job. Leptis Magna was one of the few interesting places there, although I imagine that's all changed now, all commercialised. Tripoli wasn't too bad, but only because the Italians had been there previously.
Well, it's easy to be wise after the event, but with a nutter like Gaddafi in charge, it comes as no surprise. Remember it was in the 80's that the Yanks bombed Libya.
I think they have admitted as much, and apologised. Egypt and Tunisia went OK. Not defending the government, but many workers were scattered all over the country in some fairly remote spots, plus, mysteriously, a couple of planes became unserviceable or were unavailable. I find that strange.

rugbymatt

Maybe you can point them out for us, because I don't see any.

Rotor

I generally wished I was at home when upto my neck in shi.e but wished I was back in it when I was at home, mad eh