Another soldier has been killed in the futile Afghanistan war. He is reported to be from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh and died on vehicle patrol in the Musa Qal'eh District in northern Helmand Province.
His death means 218 British soldiers have now died during this war.
I ask you to spare a thought for his family. There are around 9,000 military personnel involved in this war and each must have at least 5 family and close friends - therefore there are around 45,000 people who constantly live in the fear of an unexpected knock on the door. Military families seldom complain, they live their lives quietly and go about their daily business.
In the past 24 hours one family has suffered the agony of that dreaded knock on the door. My heart goes out to them in their grief.
Posts
10 comments:
Another wife without a husband. More children without a father. Another mother and father without a son.
Mind you, Gordon Brown has bravely overcome his eyesight problems...
And three young French chaps and their families to...
Subrosa, please don't take this the wrong way.
Wars are bloody events. Soldiers and civilians get killed and maimed.
Every such loss is a personal tragedy, but it is in the nature of war. The numbers today pale into insignificance compared with the numbers who lost their lives in the two world wars of last century.
Since those two wars, I am not persuaded that any subsequent British military action has been just. And certainly not in Suez, Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran to come.
But I am not a pacifist.
You come across as ambivalent on this matter: very supportive of our troops on the one hand, but outraged if the inevitable happens.
I'm sorry another of your soldiers has died. I'm sorry so many of our own in the US have died. And I wish I could see the possibility of their deaths not being a waste. Their dying is bad enough. The many who are injured and maimed is bad enough. But is it to prop up a government that is seriously corrupt? To give access to routes for moving oil?
I have serious questions. I think there are things in the world that are worth sacrificing one's life for--I'm not sure whatever it is we're fighting for over there (I think you've been told it was to keep terrorists off the streets of London and I'm not even SURE any more what they're telling us over here) is worth it. Because I'm afraid it may be as much lies as those Weapons of Mass Destruction were.
I don't think Subrosa is the only one who's ambivalent.
Hamish, let me assure you I am in no way ambivalent about the Afghanistan war, nor was I about the Iraq war.
Both these wars were completely unnecessary, both achieved nothing in the protection of our islands and the presence of our armed forces in both of them was purely at the behest of the US government and the UK government's desire to be part of the US's strategy.
Yes I am supportive of our troops and also outraged that lives are being needlessly wasted.
If I thought for one moment that the war in Afghanistan was to protect the people of these islands, then I would fully support it.
I have yet to be convinced that the loss of one soldier's life helped the security of the UK.
Also I am certainly not convinced these soldiers believe they are doing what they signed up to do and that is protect us the people of the British Isles.
Hamish I do know wars are bloody events. I also know wars seldom solve matters - political discussion does.
Have you ever spent months waiting for the knock on the door during the past 9 years Hamish? I thought not.
I wouldn't make such protests if I thought these wars were justified but they're not.
This week the base has been laid for the next one - with Iran. When that happens there will more senior officers leaving I assure you.
You can't compare today's military with the one who fought in the last two world wars or the others you mention. Today's military is composed of highly qualified people who decide to offer their services in the protection of these islands, but many know enough's enough with their fate in the hands of a madman and his pals.
Yes Dram, I heard about that after I wrote this. Wouldn't surprise me if the French withdraw soon.
I have little sympathy with Gordon Brown Gigits. His disability was caused through playing sport. These soldiers lose their lives or limbs because of his mad decisions.
Gordon Brown is not worse off nor better off than many of us in this world. We all have problems to bear, each and every one of us.
Ah Jeanne, I see you're up to date with the propaganda we're fed week by week about the fact that our troops are out there to protect our streets.
That's drivel as any sensible person knows.
Terrorists are already present within the UK and putting 9,000 lives at risk isn't going to eradicate them by any means.
It's tragic, Subrosa. I'd move heaven and earth to prevent my sons from joining the military - no holds barred!
I have to concur with the majority of posts - this war is just so pointless and would seem to cause more problems than it solves.
Bring 'em home, I say.
So would I Fausty, but if they joined say, 12 years ago before these warmongers were in power, what could you do?
Post a Comment