Can someone tell me why UK forces are in Afghanistan?
27 November 2008, 05:23 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Can someone tell me why UK forces are in Afghanistan?
As title. Think there's been about 3 Royal Marines killed in as many days.
Afghanistan has nothing to do with us, and is not a threat to our national security. It's a joke IMO - one that isn't funny in any way for the families that have lost loved ones...and for what?
It always has to be good old Great Britain that helps out the rest of the world. And if there is a problem, why aren't other EU countries getting involved?
Afghanistan has nothing to do with us, and is not a threat to our national security. It's a joke IMO - one that isn't funny in any way for the families that have lost loved ones...and for what?
It always has to be good old Great Britain that helps out the rest of the world. And if there is a problem, why aren't other EU countries getting involved?
Last edited by GlesgaKiss; 27 November 2008 at 05:24 PM.
27 November 2008, 05:32 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: riding the crest of a wave ...
Posts: 46,493
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
is it something to do with stopping the Taliban profiting from opium
-So well be there forever presumably, attempting to route out insurgents whilst accidentally ******* up the general populous
-So well be there forever presumably, attempting to route out insurgents whilst accidentally ******* up the general populous
27 November 2008, 06:06 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Yes we'll be there forever if the numpties in charge of this country have anything to do with it. We won't be able to 'beat' the Taliban - they are on their own ground with a no doubt never-ending supply of replacements, and no one has ever defeated them in the past.
27 November 2008, 06:08 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Trending Topics
27 November 2008, 07:29 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
27 November 2008, 07:50 PM
#13
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
If that is the case - How many herion addicts are going to die in Britain as a result of the armed forces not being there? I'm pretty sure it can't be more than the number of soldiers that have been killed out there.
27 November 2008, 07:51 PM
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Type 25. Build No.34
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The OP asked why we are in Afganistan...well
I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned an incident that happen on 11th September 2001.
The reason we went to war is clear and obvious, the Taliban (who have a truly dreadful ideology) were giving shelter the terrorists leaders who planned and sanctioned the attacks (that killed nearly 3,000 people).
The attacks triggered the NATO alliance policy of 'one member attacked, all are attacked'. So NATO gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden and his cronies or else, the Taliban chose 'or else'.
Now we can all debate whether the action has been effective and whether there is any real prospect of long term success, but the justification for this war is clear.
I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned an incident that happen on 11th September 2001.
The reason we went to war is clear and obvious, the Taliban (who have a truly dreadful ideology) were giving shelter the terrorists leaders who planned and sanctioned the attacks (that killed nearly 3,000 people).
The attacks triggered the NATO alliance policy of 'one member attacked, all are attacked'. So NATO gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden and his cronies or else, the Taliban chose 'or else'.
Now we can all debate whether the action has been effective and whether there is any real prospect of long term success, but the justification for this war is clear.
27 November 2008, 08:20 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Moved to the Darkside
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what i've read the armed forces are there(amongst other reasons) trying to then encourage farmers to grow other crops and then protect them from the taliban.
In the same article it said that the army had stopped a big shipment with a street value of i think £400m, with the taliban getting hold of that sort of money and that was just one batch! imagine what carnage they could cause.
27 November 2008, 08:21 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Here, there and everywhere
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Afghanistan has nothing to do with us, and is not a threat to our national security.
For what its worth, I am a serving soldier and i have just literally returned from 6 months in Helmand Province. My perception on the why's and what for's has changed considerably during my tour. I was going to write an explanation as to why we are there and why we will be there for some time to come but, i have decided not to waste my time and i'd rather not be quoted in case some of my facts are wrong.
I suggest if you want to know the facts you should do some research. You may well be suprised.
Our efforts are not in vain.
27 November 2008, 08:53 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Guernsey
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you will find it does and it is.
For what its worth, I am a serving soldier and i have just literally returned from 6 months in Helmand Province. My perception on the why's and what for's has changed considerably during my tour. I was going to write an explanation as to why we are there and why we will be there for some time to come but, i have decided not to waste my time and i'd rather not be quoted in case some of my facts are wrong.
I suggest if you want to know the facts you should do some research. You may well be suprised.
Our efforts are not in vain.
For what its worth, I am a serving soldier and i have just literally returned from 6 months in Helmand Province. My perception on the why's and what for's has changed considerably during my tour. I was going to write an explanation as to why we are there and why we will be there for some time to come but, i have decided not to waste my time and i'd rather not be quoted in case some of my facts are wrong.
I suggest if you want to know the facts you should do some research. You may well be suprised.
Our efforts are not in vain.
27 November 2008, 08:54 PM
#18
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
I think you will find it does and it is.
For what its worth, I am a serving soldier and i have just literally returned from 6 months in Helmand Province. My perception on the why's and what for's has changed considerably during my tour. I was going to write an explanation as to why we are there and why we will be there for some time to come but, i have decided not to waste my time and i'd rather not be quoted in case some of my facts are wrong.
I suggest if you want to know the facts you should do some research. You may well be suprised.
Our efforts are not in vain.
For what its worth, I am a serving soldier and i have just literally returned from 6 months in Helmand Province. My perception on the why's and what for's has changed considerably during my tour. I was going to write an explanation as to why we are there and why we will be there for some time to come but, i have decided not to waste my time and i'd rather not be quoted in case some of my facts are wrong.
I suggest if you want to know the facts you should do some research. You may well be suprised.
Our efforts are not in vain.
It just doesn't seem right when you keep reading in the papers that more and more soldiers have been killed, with no obvious positive outcome.
27 November 2008, 08:55 PM
#19
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Welcome back, and no matter what people say about the rights and wrongs of any involvement in these conflicts, you should be rightly proud of yourself for having the courage to do the job. Our armed forces, and all those that are involved, deserve our full and unconditional support.
27 November 2008, 09:05 PM
#20
spot on!
although the lads are dieing for a pointless conflict, it is impossible to win in a situation where the "enemy" is atually the people your trying to protect.
us general once said " in order for us to secure the village we had to destroy it" crazy but seems like the only option.
the ruskeys had more tanks more men, more firepower and they got beaten to hell in afganistan. what people forget is we atually supplied the afganys with weapons and ammo.
although the lads are dieing for a pointless conflict, it is impossible to win in a situation where the "enemy" is atually the people your trying to protect.
us general once said " in order for us to secure the village we had to destroy it" crazy but seems like the only option.
the ruskeys had more tanks more men, more firepower and they got beaten to hell in afganistan. what people forget is we atually supplied the afganys with weapons and ammo.
27 November 2008, 09:18 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: riding the crest of a wave ...
Posts: 46,493
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
The OP asked why we are in Afganistan...well
I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned an incident that happen on 11th September 2001.
The reason we went to war is clear and obvious, the Taliban (who have a truly dreadful ideology) were giving shelter the terrorists leaders who planned and sanctioned the attacks (that killed nearly 3,000 people).
The attacks triggered the NATO alliance policy of 'one member attacked, all are attacked'. So NATO gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden and his cronies or else, the Taliban chose 'or else'.
Now we can all debate whether the action has been effective and whether there is any real prospect of long term success, but the justification for this war is clear.
I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned an incident that happen on 11th September 2001.
The reason we went to war is clear and obvious, the Taliban (who have a truly dreadful ideology) were giving shelter the terrorists leaders who planned and sanctioned the attacks (that killed nearly 3,000 people).
The attacks triggered the NATO alliance policy of 'one member attacked, all are attacked'. So NATO gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden and his cronies or else, the Taliban chose 'or else'.
Now we can all debate whether the action has been effective and whether there is any real prospect of long term success, but the justification for this war is clear.
27 November 2008, 09:40 PM
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
The OP asked why we are in Afganistan...well
I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned an incident that happen on 11th September 2001.
The reason we went to war is clear and obvious, the Taliban (who have a truly dreadful ideology) were giving shelter the terrorists leaders who planned and sanctioned the attacks (that killed nearly 3,000 people).
The attacks triggered the NATO alliance policy of 'one member attacked, all are attacked'. So NATO gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden and his cronies or else, the Taliban chose 'or else'.
Now we can all debate whether the action has been effective and whether there is any real prospect of long term success, but the justification for this war is clear.
I can't believe that no one has yet mentioned an incident that happen on 11th September 2001.
The reason we went to war is clear and obvious, the Taliban (who have a truly dreadful ideology) were giving shelter the terrorists leaders who planned and sanctioned the attacks (that killed nearly 3,000 people).
The attacks triggered the NATO alliance policy of 'one member attacked, all are attacked'. So NATO gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Bin Laden and his cronies or else, the Taliban chose 'or else'.
Now we can all debate whether the action has been effective and whether there is any real prospect of long term success, but the justification for this war is clear.
Taliban supporting and harbouring the World's most wanted terrorist who has attacked Britain as well as the US and numerous other countries. In addition to that Al Qaeda are providing the majority of the the insurgents in Iraq who are killing British troops there.
And people after all these years still have to ask why we have troops there
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 28 November 2008 at 09:40 AM.
27 November 2008, 10:16 PM
#24
BANNED
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: In my own little world
Posts: 9,644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the Government should "pull out" from this pathetic 'war' and fight the "battle" a little more "covert"
easier and less mess. They can easily know what's going on and who needs a 'slap"
easier and less mess. They can easily know what's going on and who needs a 'slap"
27 November 2008, 10:20 PM
#25
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Type 25. Build No.34
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We need to get some our so-called allies to pull their weight a bit more too. As usual it's UK, US and Canadian forces that are doing the hard yards.
28 November 2008, 01:09 AM
#27
As title. Think there's been about 3 Royal Marines killed in as many days.
Afghanistan has nothing to do with us, and is not a threat to our national security. It's a joke IMO - one that isn't funny in any way for the families that have lost loved ones...and for what?
It always has to be good old Great Britain that helps out the rest of the world. And if there is a problem, why aren't other EU countries getting involved?
Afghanistan has nothing to do with us, and is not a threat to our national security. It's a joke IMO - one that isn't funny in any way for the families that have lost loved ones...and for what?
It always has to be good old Great Britain that helps out the rest of the world. And if there is a problem, why aren't other EU countries getting involved?
28 November 2008, 08:54 AM
#28
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wildberg, Germany/Reading, UK
Posts: 9,706
Likes: 0
Received 73 Likes
on
54 Posts
Correction we should give our troops carte blanche to sort out the problem in the places they already are. You don't see the Taliban frightened to open fire or shouting warnings do you!!! I bet they are not worried about being court martialed for murder, manslaughter or firing a weapon.
28 November 2008, 08:58 AM
#29
BANNED
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: In my own little world
Posts: 9,644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Correction we should give our troops carte blanche to sort out the problem in the places they already are. You don't see the Taliban frightened to open fire or shouting warnings do you!!! I bet they are not worried about being court martialed for murder, manslaughter or firing a weapon.
would make no difference. The UK troops will never win there. its a waste of time .
28 November 2008, 09:04 AM
#30
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nobbering about...
Posts: 16,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome back, and no matter what people say about the rights and wrongs of any involvement in these conflicts, you should be rightly proud of yourself for having the courage to do the job. Our armed forces, and all those that are involved, deserve our full and unconditional support.
