Afghanistan Options

[Guest_noobree_*]

PS - Milliband's statement about the situation this morning is about as crassly stupid as you can get.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8145735.stm

Making Britain safer? Of course not. Preventing Afghanistan becoming a launch pad? As was pointed out here, they will simply train and recruit somewhere else - they already are. Are we going to send troops into north western Pakistan next?

[GMR]

PS - Milliband's statement about the situation this morning is about as crassly stupid as you can get.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8145735.stm

Making Britain safer? Of course not. Preventing Afghanistan becoming a launch pad? As was pointed out here, they will simply train and recruit somewhere else - they already are. Are we going to send troops into north western Pakistan next?

Of course it is not going to make Britain safer. We are going to get bogged down just as the American’s did in Vietnam. We are trying to fight a conventional war, while they use guerrilla warfare tactics; that way we are not going to achieve anything. Either seriously bomb the mountains or get out.

The Taliban are on home ground and can out survive us. We are always looking over our shoulders at the Geneva convention; the Taliban have no such restraints.

[Iommi]

I agree totally; the problem is we use the Geneva convention when we fight, they fight as they see fit. To fight fire we need fire. A civilized society cannot use civility to fight animals.

I'm not sure, did the gun bring IRA to the table? But I understand the subtext your statement, but to fight as an animal means one becomes one, so what is the gain?

I agree and the same could be said about Iraq; however, it was a case of needs must at the time (I am not saying I agree with that approach, but understand it), today we have to look at things differently. Remember; at one time America was our enemy and we fitted their enemies out with our weapons, now they are our partners. We have to look at each case on its merit.

The problem with things like Irag, is the reason we went there wasn't the one portrayed and it leaves us morally weaker for it.

[JeffG]

When I started this topic, I didn't really intend for it to become a general debate on the whys and wherefores of the war in Afghanistan, but that's how discussions develop, I suppose.

I was trying to point out that with a couple of notable exceptions (I only picked a selection of countries - there may be others like Denmark), we seem to be taking far more than our fair share of casualties than our European partners.

[Iommi]

I was trying to point out that with a couple of notable exceptions (I only picked a selection of countries - there may be others like Denmark), we seem to be taking far more than our fair share of casualties than our European partners.

I think we realised that but what are we to debate, other than saying, 'yes!' ?

You need to look after your threads, otherwise they'll get stolen.

[Guest_noobree_*]

This is worth a look:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/1...try-of-defence1

[TallDarkAndHands...]

You can never EVER win a war where the general populus hate you. British and other occupational forces will continue to die every day until they withdraw from the area.

Anyone remember Vietnam?

[Andy]

You can never EVER win a war where the general populus hate you. British and other occupational forces will continue to die every day until they withdraw from the area.

Anyone remember Vietnam?

I believe they hate the Taliban more and the general populus support us driving them out

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Andy - I think you are a bit simple. DO NOT BELIEVE anything this godforsaken government tell you.

[Andy]

Andy - I think you are a bit simple. DO NOT BELIEVE anything this godforsaken government tell you.

I'd prefer it if you wouldn't abuse me by name calling as it tends to show your low level ignorance. I have gauged my own opinion on the subject by listening, reading and investing numerous articles, none of which have come from the government.

If you are some sort of expert on the subject, have been there and know diffently, then I'll be glad to listen to that too, but terse unfounded spoutings are of no interest to me.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

I suggest you go and have a chat with the bereaved Mothers / Fathers and Siblings after we have withdrawn having achieved absolutely nothing.

[Andy]

I suggest you go and have a chat with the bereaved Mothers / Fathers and Siblings after we have withdrawn having achieved absolutely nothing.

...and you've done this have you and know it to be a fact?

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Having a War and ensuring that lots of young men die is a good way of deflecting attention from the mess you have made at home.

Maggie did it (but at least that was a 'just war' where the residents of the Islands wanted liberation) and so Is Gordon 'I put all my money on Black and its come out Red' Brown.

Sorry I was a bit abusive earlier. It just makes me angry when people think that we will achieve anything in Afghanistan. If you knew anything about the country you will realise that the only 'conqueror' of the place in thousands of years was a certain Mr Ghenghis Khan who bulit a 200 foot pyramid of human skulls as a warning for the people to obey his rule. Can't see the British Army getting away with this 'technique!'

http://www.voyagemongolie.com/History_of_M...ia_conquest.htm

[Wicca]

The only problem now is if they do pull the troops out it will prove that the war was pointless, and the government will do everything to prevent that.

[GMR]

You can never EVER win a war where the general populus hate you. British and other occupational forces will continue to die every day until they withdraw from the area.

Anyone remember Vietnam?

A war that America lost; however, they did talk about using nuclear bombs at one time.

[GMR]

The only problem now is if they do pull the troops out it will prove that the war was pointless, and the government will do everything to prevent that.

Yes; it would also mean that all those soldiers died for nothing.

[GMR]

...and you've done this have you and know it to be a fact?

The reports I have read in the paper and have seen on TV showed the parents of the troopers who have died showing support for continuous fighting in Afghanistan.

I doubt they wanted their child to die for nothing.

[Guest_Bill1_*]

You can never EVER win a war where the general populus hate you. British and other occupational forces will continue to die every day until they withdraw from the area.

Anyone remember Vietnam?

Do the liberated women etc their hate us? I very much doubt it.