Another British soldier died yesterday from wounds he received after being shot in southern Afghanistan. The soldier was from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.
We have now lost 346 of our armed forces in the Afghanistan war.
Last week we learned, from the Wikileaks documents, that Gulab Mangai, governor of Helmand province, was particularly disdainful of the British effort in the town of Sangin - which has become synonymous with heavy UK casualties. In a communication to British officials in January 2009, he wrote "Stop calling it the Sangin district and start calling it the Sangin base - all you have done here is built a military camp next to the city."
Furthermore, the cables report conversations in which Mr Karzai said that Britain was "not up to the task" of securing the southern province of Helmand and suggested the job would be better given to the US. Karzai is also reported to have told US officials he was puzzled why security in Helmand had deteriorated after the arrival of British troops.
A US general, Dan McNeill, who led NATO forces in Afghanistan in 2007/08 was also scathing in his remarks: he had been "dismayed" by the British effort which "made a mess of things" in Helmand.
We have now lost 346 of our armed forces in the Afghanistan war plus the unknown numbers who have sustained serious injuries.
Isn't it good to know that our allies think so highly of our efforts? Their attempts at damage limitation flattery doesn't impress.
Update 7 Dec: A fellow blogger has provided more information about the latest tragedy.
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17 comments:
Perhaps we should conscript and send a battalion from Westminster Rosa.
Then we could really show the world what a real mess we can make.
Ah RA, I think people are beginning to see that already. Our politicians are so hell bent on being friends with everyone that they've forgotten the folk who elected them.
Its not just soldiers who are dying and being maimed in this futile invasion. If you have a strong constitution search 'Death Made In America'.
To quote old Churchill SR "there's only one thing worse than fighting with Allies and that's fighting without them".
Like it or not, were stuck with them until some-one decides we are out of there
Of all the oxymorons, the one I loathe is friendly fire.
Mr Karzai said that Britain was "not up to the task"
This means in diplomatic language that our bribes and hand-outs just aren't good enough!
Of course it's not only the military CH, but I started this blog because I felt the military were being misused so that's why it concentrates on that area.
I'll look later as you say I need a strong stomach. Some things I read I couldn't reproduce on here.
Unfortunately yes Dram. And now the man who was killed yesterday was 'friendly fire'.
Hamish I've just used that to Dram but you're right, it is a detestable description.
Aye EP, that'll certainly be part of it. Maybe they're also expecting him to take some form of responsibility and he doesn't like that.
Whether we're doing "well" or "badly" really makes no difference; the point is we should not be in there, we will achieve nothing, and the lives lost there are wasted.
We should leave, now, tomorrow if possible, and let them get on with it; that is what will happen anyway when we do eventually leave, and dozens or hundreds more young people will not die needlessly.
If Scottish soldiers are so crap, then the US won't mind if we bring them home out of harm's way, thus removing them from the danger, not only of the people whose country we are invading and occupying, at the request of an American placeman head of state (who was not actually elected), but also of what they euphemistically call "friendly fire" and what by any other standards is manslaughter (albeit in difficult circumstances).
We shouldn't have to ask permission to withdraw our troops Tris. We've been in Afghanistan for 10 years and there's little or nothing to show for it, other than 346 dead soldiers and thousands of grieving families.
Agree with every word Weekend Yachtsman.
I didn't mean to imply that we shuld ask permission SR... I was merely observing that they wouldn't mind...
On reflection it probably means that they would be glad to see the back of us considering the mess we are making of it.
Ah ok Tris. Didn't you mean to write 'the mess they think we're making of it'? :)
Yes, I expect that grammatically that is better and it explains the situation better too.
Goodness I seem to make nothing but mistakes these days. LOL
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