Just minutes after I published the last post I hear the news that five British soldiers have been shot dead in Helmand Province in an attack the UK military blamed on a "rogue" Afghan policeman.
The soldiers, three from the Grenadier Guards and two from the Royal Military Police had been mentoring and living with the Afghan police in a checkpoint compound.
The officer, who may have been helped by another, opened fire, injuring several other troops before fleeing.
Gordon Brown issued his usual platitudes but his time would be better spent having a war cabinet and planning a speedy withdrawal. In a country which has existed for centuries on corruption, situations like this are bound to arise.
The death toll has now risen to 229. People were shocked when it reached 200. Are the public becoming shockproof?
Five families today won't be shockproof. They will be in deep despair at the loss of their loved ones.
Update: According to Gordon Brown at PMQs, five other soldiers were seriously injured in this incident. More deep distress for another five families while the PM continues to spew his spin about how 'helping train the Afghan army and police' is protecting our islands.
Source: BBC
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10 comments:
You are correct to question the craven excuse of blaming a "rogue" Afghan trainee - as if that is a mitigating circumstance. He apparently shot dead three other Afghan trainees at the same time. This was no solitary individual but one of tens of thousands who presumes his reserved place in paradise whatever the earthly perversion to get there.
The only meaningful piece of equipment that the UK government has failed to give our armed forces out east, is an immediate Return Ticket for the High Road back home. Far too many have taken the Low Road for political subterfuge dressed up as humanitarianism.
Clarinda, well said. These people have lived by their wits for generations. We can't change their culture so why are we there?
Apparently the country has potentially billions in mineral wealth and I expect the UK politicians want to get a slice of it to pay off Brown's debts.
They won't do though Lorenzo. The Afghanis are clever and will ensure they keep it to themselves.
All this war is doing is recruiting many more moderate Afghans to the Taliban.
The best argument for Scottish independence: A Scottish government would not send your people to die in OUR wars.
I am so, so sorry.
subrosa,
God help us and so the senseless conflict goes on and young men are dying and, sadly, will carry on dying whilst the bastards responsible are safe and snug in their mansions.
Jeanne, you have nothing to be sorry for. It's your leaders who should be apologising.
Why Britain feels they should play second fiddle to the US defeats me. We've paid off the WW2 debt we owed the US but we don't have the politicians here who can now be independent and think for themselves.
Very true brownlie and every night I go to sleep I don't think well of them.
Cowards, every one.
Phew - I fair feel safer on the streets of Edinburgh tonight thanks to Labour, the party of war.
I may do tonight Dram, but it worries me how safe the younger generations will be in a few years' time.
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