Irish boy in the hunt for Gadaffi Duck

Leftyflip

http://www.herald.ie/news/irish-boy-16-in-the-hunt-for-gaddafi-2863362.html

THIS is the Dublin schoolboy who had a summer holiday like no other – battling Gaddafi's forces in Libya.
Muktar Smew, from Lucan, was holidaying with family in Tunisia when he made the snap decision to travel 15 hours across the border to a training camp in Tripoli.
And despite only receiving minimal training, the brave teenager quickly joined the rebel forces – armed with just an assault rifle.
He was the youngest of a group of 15 men operating on the front line for over two weeks.
Muktar (16) will shortly enter his Leaving Cert year at The Institute of Education on Leeson Street. His sister Fadwa (20) is president of the Irish Libyan Youth Organisation.
His parents are originally from Benghazi but moved to Ireland over 20 years ago to take up work as doctors.
Muktar admitted that the decision to join the rebels was a hasty one and that his parents did not know he was going to be risking his life.
“My parents didn't mind me going but I didn't intend to fight. They didn't know I was fighting until I got back.
“I didn't plan on fighting but when I heard that they captured Gaddafi's son I got excited. “My friend's uncle, who runs the training camp just outside Tripoli, brought me over,” he said.
“When I arrived there the training was over and they were just getting ready to go out.
“They just basically showed me how to use the gun, just firing in the air and practising stuff, and then I got my own gun.”
Muktar said he hopes to live in Libya permanently once he finishes his exams.
He admitted that he doesn't know whether he killed anybody while in battle but that he would have no problem shooting one of Gaddafi's soldiers.
“I wouldn't mind. In our religion you have permission to do it. I was near the front door (of Gaddafi's compound) but I didn't get in. A few of my friends want to go over now as well.
“It's hard to know who you are shooting at. Even Libyans shooting at you, you don't know. They were shooting in our direction but nobody got shot from our group. It was like a drive-by shooting. I was a bit scared when there were shots going off, you don't know what's going to happen.”
It is estimated that up to 500 of the 3000 Libyans living in Ireland travelled to Libya to join the campaign to remove the Gaddafi regime.

Was in my year before he left - I never thought he'd have done something like that... madness so it is...

Blazer

brave teenager my ass....probably think's it's all one big Call of Duty game..

FlutterinBantam

When he stops a slug behind the ear he won't be too brave.

Total stupidity.

Leftyflip

Sc@recrow wrote: »

brave teenager my ass....probably think's it's all one big Call of Duty game..

Who knows, teenagers these days :rolleyes:

Sunnyisland

Lucan does throw out some strange youths, first jedward and now this, must be the air.

Leftyflip

realies wrote: »

Lucan does throw out some strange youths, first jedward and now this, must be the air.

Jedward, crazy rebel kid, a lotta scumbags... Yeah we've some whacky air over here, want some?

St.Spodo

Fair play to the lad. I wonder did he kill anyone.

Dionysus

Leftyflip wrote: »

http://www.herald.ie/news/irish-boy-16-in-the-hunt-for-gaddafi-2863362.html



Was in my year before he left - I never thought he'd have done something like that... madness so it is...

OK, so we know what he and the others are ostensibly fighting against. Does anybody know what they are fighting for other than for the overthrow of Gaddafi? Are these leaders honest? honourable?

Without trying to be all Edmund Burke about it, today's heroes could be tomorrow's villains.

deisedevil

16 year olds who joined the IRA in the war of independence are regarded as heroes.

Nodin

Dionysus wrote: »

OK, so we know what he and the others are ostensibly fighting against. Does anybody know what they are fighting for other than for the overthrow of Gaddafi? Are these leaders honest? honourable?

Without trying to be all Edmund Burke about it, today's heroes could be tomorrow's villains.

Yeah, but if ye go overboard on that, nothing would ever get done.

DaveDaRave

deisedevil wrote: »

16 year olds who joined the IRA in the war of independence are regarded as heroes.

But they were actually terrorists

DaveDaRave

DaveDaRave wrote: »

But they were actually terrorists

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

I'm *Presuming* deisedevil is on about the GPO Rising lads, not the Provo scum.

Anyways, we got a country from the 1916 lads so........there.

questionmark?

DaveDaRave wrote: »

But they were actually terrorists

As are the people fighting in Libya, the people involved in the revolution in Egypt, god even the French Resistance that fought against the nazis are terrorists then ya :rolleyes:

Gator

Nice

Dionysus

deisedevil wrote: »

16 year olds who joined the IRA in the war of independence are regarded as heroes.

True, yet the republicans were defined by more than opposition to British rule. They were also positively defined by support for the creation of a sovereign Irish republic. I'm wondering how are these anti-Gaddafi people positively defining their cause?

Dionysus

DaveDaRave wrote: »

But they were actually terrorists

Ladida. :rolleyes: Feck off and troll somewhere else.

DjFlin

realies wrote: »

Lucan does throw out some strange youths, first jedward and now this, must be the air.

I think I read somewhere that they're not really from Lucan, they only lived there for a couple of years or something. Maybe it was just a dream....a wonderful wonderful dream....

Dionysus wrote: »

OK, so we know what he and the others are ostensibly fighting against. Does anybody know what they are fighting for other than for the overthrow of Gaddafi? Are these leaders honest? honourable?

Without trying to be all Edmund Burke about it, today's heroes could be tomorrow's villains.

Yeah, but they're todays heros, Today! :pac:

The people decided they wanted new leadership, now they'll have it. If in time these new leaders become villains, the people will rise up again. Its a process.

Dionysus

Deleted User wrote: »

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

I'm *Presuming* deisedevil is on about the GPO Rising lads, not the Provo scum.

Anyways, we got a country from the 1916 lads so........there.

Technically, so far we only have a state. Ireland remains as partitioned today as it was in January 1921 (although the self-declared nationalist population still under British rule is noticeably larger today).

Sunnyisland

Leftyflip wrote: »

Jedward, crazy rebel kid, a lotta scumbags... Yeah we've some whacky air over here, want some?

No thanks we have enough of our own just here;)

Leftyflip

realies wrote: »

No thanks we have enough of our own just here;)

But its free!!

General General

Leftyflip wrote: »

But its free!!

Not for long, the way things are going.

mattjack

DjFlin wrote: »

I think I read somewhere that they're not really from Lucan, they only lived there for a couple of years or something. Maybe it was just a dream....a wonderful wonderful dream....


nope its not a dream...

Daniel S

WTF? After hours is so hypocritical

Thread #1: We should ship all unemployed overseas and make them learn discipline.

Thread #2: This guy is an idiot for going abroad and fighting in an army.

FFS lads (and lass's)....

Leftyflip

Leftyflip wrote: »

http://www.herald.ie/news/irish-boy-16-in-the-hunt-for-gaddafi-2863362.html

THIS is the Dublin schoolboy who had a summer holiday like no other – battling Gaddafi's forces in Libya.
Muktar Smew, from Lucan, was holidaying with family in Tunisia when he made the snap decision to travel 15 hours across the border to a training camp in Tripoli.
And despite only receiving minimal training, the brave teenager quickly joined the rebel forces – armed with just an assault rifle.
He was the youngest of a group of 15 men operating on the front line for over two weeks.
Muktar (16) will shortly enter his Leaving Cert year at The Institute of Education on Leeson Street. His sister Fadwa (20) is president of the Irish Libyan Youth Organisation.
His parents are originally from Benghazi but moved to Ireland over 20 years ago to take up work as doctors.
Muktar admitted that the decision to join the rebels was a hasty one and that his parents did not know he was going to be risking his life.
“My parents didn't mind me going but I didn't intend to fight. They didn't know I was fighting until I got back.
“I didn't plan on fighting but when I heard that they captured Gaddafi's son I got excited. “My friend's uncle, who runs the training camp just outside Tripoli, brought me over,” he said.
“When I arrived there the training was over and they were just getting ready to go out.
“They just basically showed me how to use the gun, just firing in the air and practising stuff, and then I got my own gun.”
Muktar said he hopes to live in Libya permanently once he finishes his exams.
He admitted that he doesn't know whether he killed anybody while in battle but that he would have no problem shooting one of Gaddafi's soldiers.
“I wouldn't mind. In our religion you have permission to do it Kill anyone. I was near the front door (of Gaddafi's compound) but I didn't get in. A few of my friends want to go over now as well.
“It's hard to know who you are shooting at. Even Libyans shooting at you, you don't know. They were shooting in our direction but nobody got shot from our group. It was like a drive-by shooting. I was a bit scared when there were shots going off, you don't know what's going to happen.”
It is estimated that up to 500 of the 3000 Libyans living in Ireland travelled to Libya to join the campaign to remove the Gaddafi regime.

Was in my year before he left - I never thought he'd have done something like that... madness so it is...

.

Nodin

Mack Gorgeous Parrot wrote: »

.

Very funny there. Well done.

DjFlin

mtb_kng wrote: »

WTF? After hours is so hypocritical

Thread #1: We should ship all unemployed overseas and make them learn discipline.

Thread #2: This guy is an idiot for going abroad and fighting in an army.

FFS lads (and lass's)....

You should make Thread #3 about hypocrisy. Third Threads the charm as they say.

RustyNut

It's just like mad max only it's real.

16 year old kids running around with automatic weapons, that's going to end well all right.

Nodin

Nodin wrote: »

Very funny there. Well done.

Thanks Nodin, thought I would set an anti pc tone nice and early.

Wolfe Tone

Well done to him, standing up and fighting for what he feels is right.

Daniel S

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Well done to him, standing up and fighting for what he feels is right.

Nah, he only did it cos someone said something about shagging 40 virgins...

Daniel S

DjFlin wrote: »

You should make Thread #3 about hypocrisy. Third Threads the charm as they say.

Ah sure :rolleyes:

Nodin

Mack Gorgeous Parrot wrote: »

Thanks Nodin, thought I would set an anti pc tone nice and early.

Yes, by distorting somebodys words. Good on ye.

Elmidena

I wonder if the Irish Libyan Youth Organisation is anything like Hitler-Jugend in the long run, starts off with a good ideal and then propels to extremisms =s

LightningBolt

Teacher: Okay class, time to tell people what you did for the summer.

John: I went to Spain with my family.

Sarah: I spent the summer down in Wexford.

Muktar: I went back home to Libya and took part in our rising.

Teacher: :eek:

scholar007

mtb_kng wrote: »

Nah, he only did it cos someone said something about shagging 40 virgins...

I blame the parents.

Actually, its 70 virgins

Daniel S

scholar007 wrote: »

I blame the parents.

Actually, its 70 virgins

Not what they told him They leave the extra 30 out as they're all guys...

General General

mtb_kng wrote: »

Nah, he only did it cos someone said something about shagging 40 virgins...

Good luck foinding them in focking Lucan..

RustyNut

scholar007 wrote: »

I blame the parents.

Actually, its 70 virgins

No point hanging around lucan then.

Nodin

Nodin wrote: »

Yes, by distorting somebodys words. Good on ye.

Exactly.

willmunny1990

fair play to him!

Samich

I've been reading this thread and nothing has been mentioned about gadaffis duck, is it dead?

Leroy Lita

DaveDaRave wrote: »

But they were actually terrorists

so the people that fought for our freedom from british rule are terrorists?:rolleyes:

Latchy

With the thread title , I had an image of a boy looking for a plastic yellow duck in Gadaffis bathroom .

LighterGuy

That story is such a load of boll*cks!
They are blowing him and the whole story out something terrible. 16yo kid goes over on holidays, joins rebels, then comes home back in time to go back to school? Like he is some "brave/hero esque" dude.

Dont know if its the media, or the kid (probably the media) , "He admitted that he doesn't know whether he killed anybody while in battle but that he would have no problem shooting one of Gaddafi's soldiers" - love the way its open ended "he doesnt know? maybe he did?" - wrong. he didnt. Maybe its just me but I hate that "lets blow it out" sh*t.

You know if this was some 23yo or something. Fair enough. But some 16yo (who lets be honest, who at 16 has the cop on?) doing this can be defined as immaturity and stupidity. Probably playing COD a little bit too much.

TimeToShine

LightningBolt wrote: »

Teacher: Okay class, time to tell people what you did for the summer.

John: I went to Spain with my family.

Sarah: I spent the summer down in Wexford.

Muktar: I went back home to Libya and took part in our rising.

Teacher: :eek:

this isn't youtube

Manic Moran

LighterGuy wrote: »

Dont know if its the media, or the kid (probably the media) , "He admitted that he doesn't know whether he killed anybody while in battle but that he would have no problem shooting one of Gaddafi's soldiers" - love the way its open ended "he doesnt know? maybe he did?" - wrong. he didnt.

Why is that hard to believe? It's not as if there's a computer keeping score telling each player who hit what. I've been in two wars, and if I didn't kill anyone it wasn't for lack of trying, but I honestly can't tell you if I succeeded or not.

Manic Moran

Dionysus wrote: »

True, yet the republicans were defined by more than opposition to British rule. They were also positively defined by support for the creation of a sovereign Irish republic. I'm wondering how are these anti-Gaddafi people positively defining their cause?

Granted, but it seems to me that a prerequisite for being able to argue over where you'd like the country to go is to remove from the equitation the body which would have you removed for having that argument

NTM

LighterGuy

Manic Moran wrote: »

Why is that hard to believe? It's not as if there's a computer keeping score telling each player who hit what. I've been in two wars, and if I didn't kill anyone it wasn't for lack of trying, but I honestly can't tell you if I succeeded or not.

Im talking about media spinning Or even the kid blowing things out We dont know how many engagements he was in. For all we know he might of been in 1, a dozen or none. Him saying versus reality is another thing. But the two factors for me is that he is 16 and the media. Both wouldnt have an issue to blow a few things out of proportion.

Im not saying that with a pig-headed attitude. For all we both know he could have indeed killed people in an engagement. But at the same time this made front page news today. The media wouldnt have an issue "spicing" this up a little and being 16, would you or I be against blowing it out a tad? After all, and not to be so blunt, but he could get some pu**y out of it.

kowloon

Manic Moran wrote: »

It's not as if there's a computer keeping score telling each player who hit what.

Wait, what do you mean no respawn?!

hairy sailor

He got up off his arse to free his country,good on him.we couldn't even get up off our arses to protest against ourselves & our kids been sold into financial slavery.

Nodin

LighterGuy wrote: »

Im talking about media spinning Or even the kid blowing things out We dont know how many engagements he was in. For all we know he might of been in 1, a dozen or none. Him saying versus reality is another thing. But the two factors for me is that he is 16 and the media. Both wouldnt have an issue to blow a few things out of proportion.

.........

Granted, but he stilll got off his hole to fight for something, which shows a spine sadly lacking in some corners, regardless of age or culture.