Afghan snipers at work

[Philidor]

Almost every American and Afghan infantryman present has had frightening close calls. Some of the shooting has apparently been from Kalashnikov machine guns, the Marines say, mixed with sniper fire.

The near misses have included lone bullets striking doorjambs beside their faces as Marines peeked around corners, single rounds cracking by just overhead as Marines looked over mud walls, and bullets slamming into the dirt beside them as they ran across the many unavoidable open spaces in the area they have been assigned to clear.

Source

I hate the war in Afghanistan, don't believe Britain and America should be there, loath the politicians who framed the policy, but can't criticise the fighting men (and women). I know some on the left do - "We'll support our troops when they shoot their officers" - but the men sucking up the dust, bullets flying round their heads, thousands of miles from home, break my heart.

[Balthazar]

I agree wholeheartedly. The men and women fighting there have been put in harm's way by people with a worldview that hasn't been relevant since 1914. It's not their fault that US foreign policy always seems to achieve the exact opposite of what it intends.

[Philidor]

There's video on the web somewhere - I'll dig it out later if I can find it - of British army medics flying out in a helicopter to medivac wounded troops. They're totally lovely blokes who stand on the runway tarmac in some sand-blasted, God-forsaken hole, and fight back the tears when they lose someone.

There's one scene where they have a choice: fly slow so their escorting gunship* can keep up (so much bloody armour the thing only goes the speed of a fast car) and probably lose the smashed up 19 yr old they've just scooped up - or put their foot down and leave the gunship behind. Of course, they go fast, very low, rushing him to the operating theatre, bullets and rockets whooshing past them. They still lose him.

Criticising such men isn't an option. It's not their fault the controlling politicians are idiots and a*seholes.



* Possibly piloted by a woman. Imagine how the conservative Taliban greybeards hate them!

[Florestan]

Originally Posted by Balthazar

I agree wholeheartedly. The men and women fighting there have been put in harm's way by people with a worldview that hasn't been relevant since 1914. It's not their fault that US foreign policy always seems to achieve the exact opposite of what it intends.

Me too. It's an unwinnable war over ideology, like Vietnam. It has nothing to do with western states' national security; in fact it jeopardises it. And those who claim we must kill these people for women's rights are liars and hypocrites. They don't really give a damn for women's rights. People who care about women's rights also tend strongly to oppose invading other people's countries and killing them.

[Philidor]

Put yourself in the shoes of an Afghan farmer. Who are you going to support to enforce law and order: the local militia (who used to be called the "Mujahideen" (good) but are now called the "Taliban" (bad) and to which your numerous relatives belong) or NATO troops?

If you're bonkers enough to support NATO troops what happens when they leave? How do you explain your conduct to your relatives?

[Philidor]

British troops fighting alongside stoned (marijuana and opium) Afghan National Army men. Look at the expressions on the squaddies' faces!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc8w0IX4UQc"]YouTube- Inside Afghanistan-Fighting Alongside Stoned Afghan Soldiers[/ame]