East Timor leader Jose Ramos-Horta shot!

[Levin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7238142.stm

"Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home, and later airlifted to Australia for treatment.

He received three gunshot wounds - one in the stomach and two in the chest - and his condition is described as 'serious but stable'. "

Levin

[Grace Oz]

Yes, and my son is one of the troops being deployed to help sort that ragtag lot out! :angryfire

[nyapa, RN]

I know I found it shocking that there were East Timorese that accused UN troops of being 'cowards'. The way I see it, the general public do need protection from the warring factions (though I don't have proper insight, as I am not East Timorese). But to call our ppl cowards means that we are not appreciated. If we are not appreciated then we should leave...

Whether the person(s) who made that comment represent the whole of the East Timorese ppls opinion I don't know. If the majority truly do feel this way, then we should go. Or else those who are saying things like this, in a public manner porportedly representing the East Timorese ppl should be reprimanded. In the interest of free speech though, I see nothing wrong in those persons voicing their opinion, as long as they indicate that it is their own personal viewpoint, and not representative of the Timorese community ...

[Grace Oz]

the east timorese government asked australia to send troops.

we did.

the same govt ordered our troops not to shoot that ragtag mob.

so, they didn't.

they instead retreated to base.

that ragtag mob then were able to get close to the leaders and shot one of them.

and now the leader of the east timorese defence force has the nerve to criticise the australian troops who were under directions from the east timorese gov not to open fire!!!!!

hello????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you ask us to help defend and protect you.

we respond to your request.

you place unreasonable and unsafe rules of engagement on our troops.

they abide by those rules.

as a direct result of those rules set by you, the ragtag rebels were able to get close to the leader.

the leader gets shot.

again, you request we send more troops to your country.

so... we do!

don't ask for our help, accept it when given, then criticise and denigrate our wonderful men and women who are putting their lives on the line for a country which is not even theirs!!!!!!

don't ask for our help then place impossible restrictions and ridiculous demands on those helping and expect them to be able to do the job they're supposed to be there to do!!!!!!