#41
Bern,
You seemed to be convinced of the noble cause (Lets not call it a crusade) of our troops in Afghanistan.
This is not a question whether the troops should have our support, of course that should be the case, now and in the future.
I despair when I see such statements that the troops are on a vital mission,vital for who?? To stop bombers I dont think so, only this week we had 17 Afghans in the back of a truck at Dover. So if you think for one moment that we could stop bombers coming here if they chose, think again. All that stops bombers coming here is because they choose not to for the moment.
Just one last point you do not have exclusive rights with regards pride in our army,air force and navy.the vast majority of the country shares that pride. It is a great pity that an obvious percentage takes pride in pictures of our troops coming home through Wootton Bassett in coffins.!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#42
history shows that afghanistan is unconquerable, i notice we never wage war in the gulf over terrorist camps there.
those states are too wealthy and influential.
better to attack the non oil producing countries.
#43
Howard Mcsweeney,
I have to confess it is not often we both sing from the same hymn sheet. n this case I am happy to have your support, because we both know that we are 100% right.
#44
Brian Dixon, as an after thought, the Commonwealth war graves commision in Iraq do tend the graves of our war dead. And that has always been the case even through Saddam Hussains reign. British deaths in Irag in the first world war were a total of 16000. The upkeep of the cemetaries are not up to the standards we expect but they do there best.
#45
Talk of conquering does not do justice to the serious challenges faced in the middle east. Vital does not equal conquerable. BTW, why, Jimmy, do you think I feel I have exclusive rights regarding pride in the armed forces? Not sure where that came from!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#46
possably jimmy long,but you must remember that iraq is mostly dessert along with eygpt and along the north african coast,where other war graves are.
#47
Brian Dixon,
Sorry but I seem to have missed your point???
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#48
jimmy long,the point being sand, shed loads of.gets blown around a lot etc,not the best ideal compared to european ones.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#49
Brian
As you know, I've been to a few Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Egypt; I have to say that they are all in magnificent condition, in fact we met the Egyptian groundskeepers in all but one of the cemeteries we visited and they were all delighted that we had taken the trouble to visit. In return, I have to say that the state of upkeep was A1, completely beyond fault.
Al Qantara (Kantara) was the best of the lot, and that's completely sand where the others were grassed.......and the staff there were quite superb, even kept the place open for us beyond opening hours whilst Brian Rowland looked for his Grandfather's grave.
Here are a couple of photos of Al Qantara cemetery:
True friends stab you in the front.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#50
andy,thankyou for putting the pictures up of that wonderfull cematry,i was trying to explain that due to sandy areas must be very hard to keep them looking that good.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#51
All rather sad..when you think of it...
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
#52
Each one a hero with a story to tell.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#53
Following the rules of strategy, we can forsee that if our forces remain in Afghanistan fighting, there will be thousands more dead and wounded British soldiers over the next few years. Not counting the Americans and other contingents, who have horror figures of their own to lament. This is a terrible sacrifice for no cause or reason! i believe that many people in britain do not even realise the reality of Afghanistan, where different ethnic groups speaking different languages inhabit different areas of the country. Pashtuns live in tribal society, which excludes democracy as we know it, and they always tend to unite in some form of formal leadership in return for tribal autonomy.
Uzbecs and Tajiks in the north live in areas bordering on to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and also live along ethnic lines, in the sense that each tribe or ethnic group in Afghanistan will always consider first their own interests, but never submit to foreign military presence. One of the most powerful opponents to the Soviet army was the Afghan tajik force, whereas the uzbekforces were usually allies of the Afghan pro-Soviet government. Nowadays, the British and other Coalition forces are fighting only the Pashtuns, as the Taliban are pashtuns. They DO NOT preach blowing up people in Britain or in other countries.
Bern, please get things right, as there is no truth in what you wrote here. The Taliban do not threaten Britain or Europe with terrorist attacks!
Our soldiers are being sacrificed for no cause!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#54
Alexander. Tell that to the 9/11 and 7/7 victims or those who died or were injured in the Bali bombings.
The Taliban's support and encouragment of Al Qaeda is a matter of record.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#55
Barry, those bombings were not carried out by the Taliban as yoy flaming well know, and Al Quaeda has, to the best of my knowledge as ascertained from news-paper and TV reports, moved its headquarters to Iraq. Now you know full well that Iraq has no Taliban forces there! The Pashtuns are interested in tribal autonomy and a form of united government in Kabul that represents their interests while keeping tribal autonomy and tradition intact. You are wrong to inform people that terrorist attacks that did not come from the Talibn came from the Taliban!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#56
Read what I said Alexander, I did not say Taliban did it, I said they provided support to Al Qaeda. If they get control again of Afghanistan then will do it again.
#57
This war isn't just about Taliban and Al Quaeda anyway. It is about regime change designed to liberate the long suffering Afghans from an oppresive organisation.
The list of wrongs the allies are trying to right includes things most of the civilised world take for granted:
1. Female education
2. Female working rights
3. Right to play music
4. Right to vote for government (whatever form)
5. Right to choose religion
I am sure there are others, but as BarryW rightly says, the Taliban overtly support and give succour to Al Quaeda so that is a main reason too.
Wherever that organisation touches (like the old PLO under Yasser Arrowroot (who took the biscuit in my view)) turns to violence and death. ANYTHING our troops can do to bring an end to scoundrels and monsters is worthy IMHO.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#58
sid
the present western puppet government is hardly any better than the taleban, muhajideen or any others that take their place.
they sentenced to death a young journalist that mentioned the existence of a feminist islamic website.
#59
Sid and BarryW have it right - there is no such thing as the perfect government or the perfect leadership - nowhere near! But baby steps can lead to changes.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#60
The Egyptian cemeteries look beautiful Andy.
True friends stab you in the front.
