Can someone tell me why UK forces are in Afghanistan?
28 November 2008, 09:42 AM
#31
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: North Wales
Posts: 5,826
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For a start, the Soviets were not fighting the Taliban, let's get that straight. They were fighting the Mujahadeen, it was quite different.
The Taliban filled the power vacuum that happened when the Soviets withdrew and the West failed their obligation to help rebuild the country. Like Al Qaeda, we created the situation that allowed the Taliban to come in to being.
Also, somewhat ironically, I suppose, the opium fields were closed down by the Taliban as it was unIslamic, and they crushed it. The fields were opened agina once we removed the Taliban, and not only have we failed to shut them down, but the Taliban now actively encourage them to raise funds!
So, I suppose the reason we are in Afghanistan is that we are clearing up our own ****!
We sowed the wind, now we reap the whirlwind..........
Geezer
The Taliban filled the power vacuum that happened when the Soviets withdrew and the West failed their obligation to help rebuild the country. Like Al Qaeda, we created the situation that allowed the Taliban to come in to being.
Also, somewhat ironically, I suppose, the opium fields were closed down by the Taliban as it was unIslamic, and they crushed it. The fields were opened agina once we removed the Taliban, and not only have we failed to shut them down, but the Taliban now actively encourage them to raise funds!
So, I suppose the reason we are in Afghanistan is that we are clearing up our own ****!
We sowed the wind, now we reap the whirlwind..........
Geezer
Last edited by Geezer; 28 November 2008 at 09:44 AM.
28 November 2008, 09:56 AM
#34
Guest
Posts: n/a
Also, somewhat ironically, I suppose, the opium fields were closed down by the Taliban as it was unIslamic, and they crushed it. The fields were opened agina once we removed the Taliban, and not only have we failed to shut them down, but the Taliban now actively encourage them to raise funds!
Geezer
Geezer
Edit to add the reason opium production has gone up is because previously the Taliban had total control of production and no ordinary Afghan could grow it. Now the Taliban are not in control any Afghan can grow it without having to answer to the Taliban. The US and UK military do not have the man power to treat opium growth as a high priority whilst they are fighting the Taliban resistance and looking for OBL and his cronies.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 28 November 2008 at 10:11 AM.
28 November 2008, 02:00 PM
#35
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would certainly not expect anyone to run down our troops for carrying out the duties which they have been ordered to do.
This is as ever down to the politicians who don't mind at all sending our lads out to the most dangerous part of Afghanistan with ineffective equipment as they did into Iraq knowing that they are in mortal danger. They can't even be bothered to send ministerial support to see the bodies come home, and they have shut down the Service hospitals so that the wounded get inferior treatment and also in many cases are verbally attacked because of the job they do.
It was obvious what our lads would be facing when the strength of the Russion forces was not able to subjugate the Taliban. Not only that-many of our so called allies will not allow their troops to enter dangerous areas so it is left to us!
This situation is shameful on the part of our leaders, and it has been said already that it is a war that will never be won. It is true of course that Orwell said in "1984" that the ruling class felt that it was necessary to have some kind of perpetual war going as part of their mantra! What a clever man he was.
It is also true that on the day you leave the Services, you are erased from the memory bank and regardless of how long you have served, you are no longer part of their responsibility and you don't even get any kind of "veteran's rights" as the US servicemen do. Your only chance if you need help is from the charitable organisations.
Les
This is as ever down to the politicians who don't mind at all sending our lads out to the most dangerous part of Afghanistan with ineffective equipment as they did into Iraq knowing that they are in mortal danger. They can't even be bothered to send ministerial support to see the bodies come home, and they have shut down the Service hospitals so that the wounded get inferior treatment and also in many cases are verbally attacked because of the job they do.
It was obvious what our lads would be facing when the strength of the Russion forces was not able to subjugate the Taliban. Not only that-many of our so called allies will not allow their troops to enter dangerous areas so it is left to us!
This situation is shameful on the part of our leaders, and it has been said already that it is a war that will never be won. It is true of course that Orwell said in "1984" that the ruling class felt that it was necessary to have some kind of perpetual war going as part of their mantra! What a clever man he was.
It is also true that on the day you leave the Services, you are erased from the memory bank and regardless of how long you have served, you are no longer part of their responsibility and you don't even get any kind of "veteran's rights" as the US servicemen do. Your only chance if you need help is from the charitable organisations.
Les
28 November 2008, 02:21 PM
#36
Um...you getting confused with Iraqi? I'm not a fan of the Iraqi war, but a lot of the terrorists that ARE a REAL threat to us are trained/training in Afghanistan and on its borders, that is why we are there. To be honest I'd rather our brave boys and girls were fighting on there doorstep rather than the police and security forces defending ours....The media have a way of making things sound so easy when the situation is very complex. We are and have been for a while, due rightly or wrong in most part to our and our allies foreign policy, been facing theses threats. Some things can and will be settled over time with diplomacy others need immediate action. Whoever is to blame for the Taliban existence and there policy towards the west it changes nothing, we need to deal with them direct now.....whilst doing this though we need to also be making friends rather than enemies of other countries and dealing with the Israel issue. Extremists are using Palestine and Israel as another way of recruiting easily lead youngsters to do there bidding. We created Israel and America supports Israel we both need to do more to stop them from killing Palestinians, again though all is not black and white as the Israelis feel under siege. As long as issues like this are un resolved extremist terrorism is going to continue and as I say, I'd rather take the fight to them than let it come to us.
Just my 2ps worth
Just my 2ps worth
28 November 2008, 03:05 PM
#37
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Um...you getting confused with Iraqi? I'm not a fan of the Iraqi war, but a lot of the terrorists that ARE a REAL threat to us are trained/training in Afghanistan and on its borders, that is why we are there. To be honest I'd rather our brave boys and girls were fighting on there doorstep rather than the police and security forces defending ours....The media have a way of making things sound so easy when the situation is very complex. We are and have been for a while, due rightly or wrong in most part to our and our allies foreign policy, been facing theses threats. Some things can and will be settled over time with diplomacy others need immediate action. Whoever is to blame for the Taliban existence and there policy towards the west it changes nothing, we need to deal with them direct now.....whilst doing this though we need to also be making friends rather than enemies of other countries and dealing with the Israel issue. Extremists are using Palestine and Israel as another way of recruiting easily lead youngsters to do there bidding. We created Israel and America supports Israel we both need to do more to stop them from killing Palestinians, again though all is not black and white as the Israelis feel under siege. As long as issues like this are un resolved extremist terrorism is going to continue and as I say, I'd rather take the fight to them than let it come to us.
Just my 2ps worth
Just my 2ps worth
Les
28 November 2008, 04:02 PM
#38
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
28 November 2008, 04:32 PM
#39
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Madchester
Posts: 646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
28 November 2008, 04:44 PM
#41
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wildberg, Germany/Reading, UK
Posts: 9,708
Likes: 0
Received 73 Likes
on
54 Posts
When my time was up to leave the army I was victimised for a week before hand made to feel guilty, put on show parade after show parade after show parade.
Then once you finally get out and return to depot to be decommisioned you are treated like **** there aswell.
28 November 2008, 07:30 PM
#43
Um...you getting confused with Iraqi? I'm not a fan of the Iraqi war, but a lot of the terrorists that ARE a REAL threat to us are trained/training in Afghanistan and on its borders, that is why we are there. To be honest I'd rather our brave boys and girls were fighting on there doorstep rather than the police and security forces defending ours....The media have a way of making things sound so easy when the situation is very complex. We are and have been for a while, due rightly or wrong in most part to our and our allies foreign policy, been facing theses threats. Some things can and will be settled over time with diplomacy others need immediate action. Whoever is to blame for the Taliban existence and there policy towards the west it changes nothing, we need to deal with them direct now.....whilst doing this though we need to also be making friends rather than enemies of other countries and dealing with the Israel issue. Extremists are using Palestine and Israel as another way of recruiting easily lead youngsters to do there bidding. We created Israel and America supports Israel we both need to do more to stop them from killing Palestinians, again though all is not black and white as the Israelis feel under siege. As long as issues like this are un resolved extremist terrorism is going to continue and as I say, I'd rather take the fight to them than let it come to us.
Just my 2ps worth
Just my 2ps worth
They say that complex problems have simple solutions - and they are always wrong.
Last edited by cster; 28 November 2008 at 10:07 PM.
29 November 2008, 10:37 AM
#45
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This excommunication starts before you actually leave Les!!
When my time was up to leave the army I was victimised for a week before hand made to feel guilty, put on show parade after show parade after show parade.
Then once you finally get out and return to depot to be decommisioned you are treated like **** there aswell.
When my time was up to leave the army I was victimised for a week before hand made to feel guilty, put on show parade after show parade after show parade.
Then once you finally get out and return to depot to be decommisioned you are treated like **** there aswell.
Les
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post