Afghan Translators - Asylum In The Uk Or Not

[jake-the-peg]

Not a political point here

I'm genuinely interested to know what those on the right of our little group think

Should those who have been helping our forces get asylum in the UK after we withdraw or be left to lookafter themselves?

Immigration or support those who helped our forces?

We seem to be the only country not giving automatic asylum to translators

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20778751

[anotheoldgit]

Can one imagine the number of Afghans who will want to come over here, claiming their lives are now at risk, when we withdraw?

[emmie]

they can join the almost 50 thousand already here, most based in the capital, indeed why not...

[Zeuhl]

aog and em

a gentle reminder of the subject in hand

Translators

a relatively small and easily identifiable number of people who have worked in our uniforms alongside our troops on patrol and in interrogation of prisoners

Don't try and turn this into an 'influx' argument as a way of doing the dirty on people who have put their lives at risk to help us

[naomi24]

Jake, unless (heaven forbid!) you’re attempting to score political points I don’t understand why you’re differentiating between the left and right here. Surely the question should be ‘what is the decent thing to do?’ And the answer? If these people have put their lives on the line for us, of course they must be allowed to come here. Bit like the Gurkhas.

[emmie]

i have already said no, or did you miss that.

[237SJ]

I agree with Naomi. Why should a little human empathy and compassion have a politcal tag slapped onto it?

[jake-the-peg]

Naomi

It's because support for our forces and immigration are both "right wing" causes.

This issue kind of puts them in conflict and I was rather interested to see on what side right wing thinkers would fall.

I rather expected left of centre people to favour granting asylum to those who we'd put in danger but I wanted to know the opinion on the other side of the fence.

I was slightly surprised I thought there'd be a bit more support for them.

I'm pretty certain that most British troops who've worked alongside translators would want to see them granted asylum, so I would have expected people would want to have respected the wishes of our forces.

Seems not

[Zeuhl]

em

You were never clear what your 'No' related to

I gave you the benefit of the doubt that it didn't mean you were denying asylum for the small number of people who have patrolled embedded with our troops and assisted in our liaison with Locals and interrogation of prisoners.

[emmie]

i did mean no, not sure why that doesn't appear clear. It is pointless going into why and the wherefores.

[naomi24]

Jake, I’m right wing, and you’ve seen the side upon which I’ve fallen. However, unlike the bigoted (of all political persuasions) who cling doggedly to a ‘cause’ regardless of the potentially damaging result of that blind adherence, I prefer to do the rational thing and give credit where credit is due.

[EcclesCake]

As one who has had first hand experience of the efforts that Afghan nationals who serve UK Govt go to to serve us and in turn protect their families I would be more than willing to see them granted asylum here if they want it.

I am pretty damn sue that those who have shared my experience will also support their choice.

[Zeuhl]

/It is pointless going into why and the wherefores./

I'm sorry you think explaining your reasons for believing something pointless'

Maybe it's just hard to think of good reasons for abandoning people who have helped our troops.

Perhaps you are not interested in helping our troops?
But as jtp says, our troops would probably want to see their Translator colleagues looked after and would consider any other attitude 'scumbag'

Your stance does surprise me because based on your other posts you don't seem to be a person so devoid of moral character, integrity or decency that you would betray someone and leave them at risk of reprisal at the hands of our enemies because of their collaboration with us.

What's next? Chuck out the Gurkhas?

That's why I would have been interested in your explanation for why it's ok to treat these people this way

[emmie]

i am personally not treating them this way, it isn't up to me, but the government.

[Zeuhl]

/i am personally not treating them this way/

No one imagined you were em - i was assuming you aren't the Foreign Secy or the Defence Secy

The enquiry was (based on your No to asylum) why YOU THINK it's OK to treat these people this way?

[sp1814]

AOG

Leaving political association aside, I would have thought that you would have welcomed those who have out their (and their families) lives at risk in aid of British troops?

This all seems strange to me...like the weird situation a couple of years ago when suddenly the Ghurkas (have I spelled that wrong) - elderly men who fought for Britain were suddenly regarded as no more than your average immigrant.

Strange.

[Zeuhl]

Could it be sp, that when the chips are down, the Reactionary Right show their true colours; self serving, unprincipled and untrustworthy?

[emmie]

of course we all are, didn't you know that, whilst the left are all cuddly and open hearted.

[Zeuhl]

Well ...

You said it :-)

[emmie]

you statement was as patently stupid as mine, and no i don't believe it, people are individuals, we can make up our minds over all sorts of issues, without resulting to insults that have no basis in fact.

[sandyRoe]

If this chap had survived his service with British forces would he not have deserved sanctuary back in Blighty?


'E carried me away
To where a dooli lay,
An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean. 70
'E put me safe inside,
An' just before 'e died:
"I 'ope you liked your drink," sez Gunga Din.
So I'll meet 'im later on
In the place where 'e is gone— 75
Where it's always double drill and no canteen;
'E'll be squattin' on the coals
Givin' drink to pore damned souls,
An' I'll get a swig in Hell from Gunga Din!