Nic’s blog
I write about building businesses, failing and building a life, not a legacy.
A South African's experience in the British Army in Iraq
This is some of the most emotive multimedia that I have ever seen. I was meant to blog about this piece when it was released on The Times, but got sidetracked.Astounding. It is refreshing to see things in Iraq from the perspective of a South African and not an American or Iraqi.See for yourself:The Times caption:
A tour in Iraq that ended in tragedy. WARNING: VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!
Brought to you by: The Times MultimediaThis video was a dramatic and effective part of Carly and Gregor's presentation at the Captivate conference.
Sniper in Afghanistan Goes Mental From Over 2000ft
I received an email today containing the following video. First let me share the text from the email:
Canadian Sniper in Afghanistan.These video shots are not made through the shooter's telescopic sight...they are made looking through the spotter's scope. The spotter lies right next to the sniper and helps the sniper to find and home in on the target.The sniper is using a 50 caliber rifle. A 50 cal. round is about 7-8 inches long and the casing is about an inch in diameter. The bullet itself is one-half inch in diameter and roughly one and one-half inches long.Pay close attention to the beginning of the video. A Taliban is lying on top of the peak in front of you... when you hear the shot fired.... watch what happens. The sniper is also about a half mile away... or more.A Canadian sniper in Afghanistan has been confirmed as hitting an enemy soldier at a range of 2,310 meters, the longest recorded and confirmed sniper shot in history. The previous record of 2,250 meters was set by US Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock in Vietnam in 1967. The Canadian sniper was at an altitude of 8,500 feet and the target, across a valley, was at 9,000 feet. Canadian sniper units often operated in support of US infantry units, which were grateful for their help. The record lasted only one day, until a second Canadian sniper hit an enemy soldier at 2,400 meters (8000 feet).The Canadian snipers fire special .50-calibre McMillan tactical rifles, which are bolt-action weapons with five-round magazines. The Canadian snipers were the only Canadian troops operating without helmets or flak jackets as they had too much other equipment to carry. Each three-man team has one sniper rifle, three standard rifles (Canadian C7s), one of them with a 203mm grenade launcher.
I am not claiming that any of it is true or untrue but I do think that it is absolutely incredible, astounding and frightening to think what a sniper is capable of.On top of all of this, I personally know a sniper in the British Army. He is in fact one of the top snipers currently in the British Army. He holds the record for the most accurate shot or something or other. It is frightening what these people are capable of and capable of putting away in a dark place.Imagine witnessing some guys head fly off his shoulders and then returning home to a nice warm meal cooked by your mother and getting in to bed with your girlfriend? A bit out of my capacity I think.This discussion (is it a discussion if I'm talking to myself?) can easily venture in to apartheid territory and conscription back in the day. But I wont go there unless I'm asked.
Comfort amidst war
I received this picture via email. Maybe you've seen it, maybe you haven't. Very interesting.
Saddam hanged - wise move?
I received a text this morning at about 8am from a news website in South Africa. The text simply said: "Saddam Hussein Executed". This was enough.Most people would think that this sort of text would fill you with something slightly positive. But not me. I'm not sure why. I'm not going to explain the intricacies of the hanging because it's all over the news anyways. I am going to say that I think that the killing of any man as an example is a silly move. Hanging a man will not end the violence in Iraq. It will not make the fighting stop and the people calm down. In fact I think that it will do the opposite.How can it be claimed that the death of a man, the murder of a man is a move in the right direction for a newly democratic state. Saddam deserved to die, he deserved to suffer but he was made an example of by the Americans who dominate Iraq. 30 people have already been killed in Iraq by a car bomb after the hanging. Violence will not stop. One man does not equal peace or war in many situations.Saddam should have been made more of an example of by keeping him alive, by showing other dictators and people who wish to follow in his path what will happen to you if you make the mistakes he did. Keep him alive and punish him for the rest of his living days. Do not give him the pleasure and satisfaction of a death that is fairly swift.