Afghanistan| not worth one British life

Eric Frei · 18th October 2009, 10:03 AM

Russians gave up after what, 20 years. It's been how long now for coalition forces?

This damn war is not worth one British life - mirror.co.uk

Quote:

By the time our politicians arrived back from their 12-week summer holiday, the bodies of 37 dead British servicemen had already piled up in Afghanistan.

It took Gordon Brown four minutes to read the names and regiments of the young men who died in Afghanistan while our elected representatives were taking their shockingly unearned holiday.

It breaks your heart to see those young, happy faces smiling out from the morning newspaper.

So proud in their uniforms. So happy to serve their country. So ready to make the ultimate sacrifice. The bravest. The brightest. The best.

And during those 12 weeks, there were other young lives shattered in Afghanistan. Bodies broken. Limbs torn apart by roadside bombs. Young men and women who will come home in wheelchairs to be jeered at by chav scum in the street. They deserve a better war than Afghanistan.

As the House of Commons rang with the names of the 37 dead, there came the announcement that 500 more troops were going to Afghanistan.

What are they fighting for this week? Democracy? Presumably that doesn’t mean the vote-rigging, corrupt democracy of President Hamid Karzai.

Presumably, the democracy they are fighting for is the kind Afghanistan has never known in its history.

Or are they fighting for national security this week? Because I am pretty sure that is what we were fighting for last week. Fighting terror in Afghanistan so that we don’t have to fight it on British streets blah, blah, blah.

But our presence in Afghanistan makes the western world even more despised in the Muslim world than it is already.

Nobody really knows why those beautiful kids are being put into wheelchairs and coffins.

Nobody knows why small children are losing their fathers, young wives are losing their husbands and elderly parents have to bury their sons and daughters.

The only reason I can see for us being in Afghanistan is the reason we were part of the invasion of Iraq.

To suck up to America.

Hillary Clinton patted our heads and told us we were good little poodles just before the announcement came that 500 more troops were being shipped out. Gordon Brown says that the extra troops will not go unless they have the right equipment. Prime Minister, none of them should have gone without the right equipment.

The brutal fact is that we simply can’t afford Afghanistan.

Not just the financial cost – although how can we shaft pensioners while splashing out on expensive, unwinnable wars? – but the dreadful human cost.

It’s an obscene bill that is paid by the bravest, the brightest and the best. We can’t afford to lose them.

Our servicemen put themselves in harm’s way. That is their job. It is inevitable that some of their number will give their lives and suffer terrible wounds. That is the price they pay for our freedom.

Every summer my father drew appalled stares at the seaside because his torso was a mass of scar tissue. But as they dropped their ice creams at Clacton and Frinton and Southend, my dad was never embarrassed or self-conscious about his scars. Why should he be? He got them in a war that was worth fighting. A war that had to be won.

Soldiers die and get wounded. That is what they do. But they have the right to be sent to wars that are worth fighting. Iraq was never such a war and neither is Afghanistan.

That wretched country is not worth one more British life.

Therrin · 18th October 2009, 10:41 AM

that's a bunch of rubbish.

Those soldiers arent being enlisted in with their arms twisted behind their back, I'm pretty sure it's like we are, a VOLUNTARY deal.

Quote:

Presumably, the democracy they are fighting for is the kind Afghanistan has never known in its history.

Or are they fighting for national security this week? Because I am pretty sure that is what we were fighting for last week. Fighting terror in Afghanistan so that we don’t have to fight it on British streets blah, blah, blah.

If they can help accomplish both wouldnt that be even better?
And if it comes down to it and they're keeping it from spreading to the streets where those "those beautiful kids" would otherwise be going to school or raising families, which is preferred?

How easily people forget.

Patton said, "noone ever won a war by having a strong defense".

Who among you would rather worry about being shot, or being hit by a roadside bomb, or your kids school being blown up because of a fundamentalist religious following who beleives that all who dont convert to their faith shall be put to death?

You can complain alot about alot of other religions, and that's fine, most of you live in countries where you're freedom allows you to argue till you're blue in the face; but when you're going up against someone who's ready to kill you for not adhering to THEIR religion, at what point do you fight back and stop pansying around.

Therrin · 18th October 2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

It’s an obscene bill that is paid by the bravest, the brightest and the best. We can’t afford to lose them.

is followed by its own response,

Quote:

Our servicemen put themselves in harm’s way. That is their job. It is inevitable that some of their number will give their lives and suffer terrible wounds. That is the price they pay for our freedom.

Sean Freeman · 18th October 2009, 11:38 AM

The Mirror is a very poor quality paper.

Garry Brockley · 18th October 2009, 12:22 PM

the mirror and the sun are both at the bottom end of the scale when it comes to reporting they do anything they can to disrupt the government and get a reaction idiots.

the reason the guys and girls are fighting here is to help stop this by closing down the borders and training camps as reported in the sunday times:

More than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a major ground offensive in the main Al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border early this morning (Sat).

The offensive in South Waziristan follows months of airstrikes intended to soften up militant defences that have also forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee. The push is due to focus on ridding the region of the Pakistani Taliban, a network opposed to the U.S.-backed Pakistani government.

The full-scale operation also comes after two weeks of militant attacks that have killed more than 175 people across Pakistan and ramped up the pressure on the army to take on the insurgents.

It is the army’s fourth attempt since 2001 to dislodge Taliban fighters from the lawless tribal region of South Waziristan, and an intelligence official said the latest effort could take up to two months. The three previous attempts ended in negotiated truces that left the Taliban in control.

Although the military has been hitting targets in South Waziristan for the past three months, it waited until two weeks ago to confirm it would go ahead with a major ground offensive.

What followed was a rash of major bombings that killed 175 people and demonstrated the militants’ ability to attack cities across the county.

One attack involved a siege of the army’s headquarters that lasted 22 hours and left 23 people dead. In the latest bombing, three suicide attackers, including a woman, struck a police station in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday, killing 13 people.

Eric Frei · 18th October 2009, 07:00 PM

YouTube - Pakistan Starts Key Offensive Against Taliban

alinicoll · 18th October 2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

The Mirror is a very poor quality paper.

Thats an understatement, it makes ok firelighter

Bruce Hopf · 8th November 2009, 01:20 PM

You know, I did a lot of thinking, about the British. As memory serves me, the British in WWII, force Canadian troops to go into Hon Kong, to fight against the Japanese, and it was a slaughter, for the Canadian troops.
Nobody knows how many troops where lost, because the Japanese didn't keep track of how many where dead, wounded, or captured.
They also forced Canadian troops to go into Dieppe France, with over 4000 men, which lead to over 2000 killed on the beach, over 1000 wounded, and a lot of them captured by the German soldiers, while the British, wanting to save their own troops, from these missions. Just makes me

Ill, to here a person talk the way she has here. Bruce.

Eric Frei · 8th November 2009, 10:07 PM

Oh the British were good a telling people where to die, that's where the Anzac's legends come from .... a slaughter.

But hey, not that much later they used the Aussies as guinea pigs to test nuclear bombs in our desert, "just stand there a while ole cob and lets see if ya sausage sizzles, she'll be right new tan there fella." Covered it up for years.

Australians can finally sue Britain for being used as guinea pigs in nuke tests

18th October 2009, 11:38 AM	#4
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: Afghanistan\| not worth one British life The Mirror is a very poor quality paper.

18th October 2009, 12:22 PM	#5
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,649	Re: Afghanistan\| not worth one British life the mirror and the sun are both at the bottom end of the scale when it comes to reporting they do anything they can to disrupt the government and get a reaction idiots. the reason the guys and girls are fighting here is to help stop this by closing down the borders and training camps as reported in the sunday times: More than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a major ground offensive in the main Al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border early this morning (Sat). The offensive in South Waziristan follows months of airstrikes intended to soften up militant defences that have also forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee. The push is due to focus on ridding the region of the Pakistani Taliban, a network opposed to the U.S.-backed Pakistani government. The full-scale operation also comes after two weeks of militant attacks that have killed more than 175 people across Pakistan and ramped up the pressure on the army to take on the insurgents. It is the army’s fourth attempt since 2001 to dislodge Taliban fighters from the lawless tribal region of South Waziristan, and an intelligence official said the latest effort could take up to two months. The three previous attempts ended in negotiated truces that left the Taliban in control. Although the military has been hitting targets in South Waziristan for the past three months, it waited until two weeks ago to confirm it would go ahead with a major ground offensive. What followed was a rash of major bombings that killed 175 people and demonstrated the militants’ ability to attack cities across the county. One attack involved a siege of the army’s headquarters that lasted 22 hours and left 23 people dead. In the latest bombing, three suicide attackers, including a woman, struck a police station in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday, killing 13 people. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

8th November 2009, 01:20 PM	#8
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: Afghanistan\| not worth one British life You know, I did a lot of thinking, about the British. As memory serves me, the British in WWII, force Canadian troops to go into Hon Kong, to fight against the Japanese, and it was a slaughter, for the Canadian troops. Nobody knows how many troops where lost, because the Japanese didn't keep track of how many where dead, wounded, or captured. They also forced Canadian troops to go into Dieppe France, with over 4000 men, which lead to over 2000 killed on the beach, over 1000 wounded, and a lot of them captured by the German soldiers, while the British, wanting to save their own troops, from these missions. Just makes me Ill, to here a person talk the way she has here. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

8th November 2009, 10:07 PM	#9
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Afghanistan\| not worth one British life Oh the British were good a telling people where to die, that's where the Anzac's legends come from .... a slaughter. But hey, not that much later they used the Aussies as guinea pigs to test nuclear bombs in our desert, "just stand there a while ole cob and lets see if ya sausage sizzles, she'll be right new tan there fella." Covered it up for years. Australians can finally sue Britain for being used as guinea pigs in nuke tests __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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