By: Rocketeer - 15th February 2012 at 21:49
I respect your experience and view point. I lost my cousin to the IRA and feel like crap everytime we lose a serviceman or woman.
By: John Green - 15th February 2012 at 21:36
Re 17
Rocketeer
Yes. Exactly that. Bring our chaps home and leave them to it. Yes, turn our backs – again, exactly as you write. We will be leaving at some time in the future – we can’t stay their forever – heaven forbid !
That barbarous society is not worth the life of even one of our Servicemen. We made a huge mistake in supporting the Americans in their pursuit of revenge for 9/11. We must get out now. If we weren’t there, there wouldn’t be any IEDs so your question would not arise.
Peace keeping is not in the remit of our Forces. They are not trained in this role. I’ve written before that they are not social workers. I’m not writing without the dubious benefit of experience. As a former member of No. 40 Commando. I’ve dodged a few angry bullets and the odd bomb during conflicts of this kind.
John Green
By: Rocketeer - 15th February 2012 at 20:54
I do not fall for politician lies at all. I did not come down with the last snowfall!
Do you not think that by removing IEDs in that village they are only saving their own lives? Does it not have a benefit to the locals too?
Peace keeping is more and more a soldier’s role nowadays….true they are trained to kill.
Granted it is a nightmare and telling who are the bad guys is difficult but what else would you do? Just bring our guys home and leave them to it?
Should we just turn our back on them? Leave them to the Taliban coming back with their oppression? Do I have a solution? Nope. Wish I did.
Sorry but we will have to agree to disagree.
By: John Green - 15th February 2012 at 20:02
Re 15
Rocketeer
Yes, they are doing a magnificent job – of soldiering. But don’t fall for the politicians lies that by being there, they are defending the streets of Britain – the most commonly used line of bull to explain our presence in Afghanistan.
You write that they are saving lives. Whose lives? I know that you may not find it palatable but, their job as soldiers is to take lives, not save them, apart that is, from their own.
The minute the Allies leave Afghanistan, Afghanistan reverts to the Stone Age with many scores to be settled on a personal and tribal basis. The population knows this and thus refuses to engage with what they perceive as an occupying power.
There is no purpose and nothing is gained by our occupation apart that is from some practise of the military art. Close to four hundred of Britains best have been killed, how many more before we withdraw ? In the 19th century, we were in Afghanistan because of the threat from Russia of an invasion into Afghanistan and thence into British India. So, there was then, some justification for our presence – not so now.
Something for you to consider. On a practical level, how do our soldiers distinguish between civilian and Taliban? Apart from the carrying of visible weapons, there is nothing to separate the two. Just seconds to weigh up whether or not you have a legitimate target. What a nighmare!
No. Bring them home. No useful purpose is being served.
John Green
By: Rocketeer - 15th February 2012 at 19:02
I must be in a minority but, whilst I understand the wish to get them home out of harm’s way, I feel they are doing a very good job and saving lives.
It is also brilliant to see how important helicopters are to them.
By: Bob - 13th February 2012 at 23:28
Apparently Mick and Memphis are reunited in the last episode of the series.
And I echo your call for them all to come home. I fear whatever stability the blood of our servicemen and women may bring, will be shortlived once they do come home at missions end. And the losses will have been for nothing…
By: John Green - 13th February 2012 at 23:02
Bob,
Thanks for the info re dogs. Here’s me screaming at the telly, use some dogs. I should’ve known…..
My prayers and good wishes go to Mr. McConnell and all the splendid men of the excellent RAF Regiment – airman maybe, but first class soldiers !
Still yet, bring them all home.
John Green
By: Bob - 13th February 2012 at 22:38
John,
Search dogs have been used for years – only really now that they are getting the press coverage…
The loss of L/Cpl Liam Tasker and his search dog Theo last year seemed to shine the spot light on the role of search dogs in Afghanistan.
Mick McConnell, the RAF Police dog handler, is on the road to recovery after being blown up. The device didn’t detonate properly although it was enough to badly injure his lower legs and feet. He was also well enough to attend the Millie Awards in December on behalf of the Military Working Dog Regiment.
Sad news today that another member of the RAF Regiment has been killed – the 397th member of British forces to die in Afghanistan…
By: John Green - 13th February 2012 at 21:49
They’re now using sniffer dogs – well overdue ! And leaving their bases and occupying ground – even temporarily. You’ll see a vastly different degree of professionalism with either the RM Commando’s or the Para’s compared with certain army units. Good soldiers !
John Green
By: paul178 - 8th February 2012 at 08:23
For God’s sake let’s get our chaps home
Yes,sooner rather than later. God Bless them all!
By: John Green - 7th February 2012 at 21:16
We too, saw the program. My wife an I were shocked. What a splendidly robust and determined young man.
Corporal Vice, we all salute you and pray for your complete recovery.
For God’s sake let’s get our chaps home
John Green
By: Bob - 6th February 2012 at 22:45
Watched tonights episode and the final frame froze on Paul “Vicey” Vice with Chris reporting that he was seriously injured by a roadside bomb. His fourth tour of the Sandpit…
I assume that he has recovered as there was a Cpl Paul Vice pictured at the Sun Millies Awards with other Royal Marines?
By: John Green - 4th February 2012 at 19:21
#Paul 178
Not when I was a ‘Bootneck’ !
John Green
By: paul178 - 4th February 2012 at 18:20
Soldiers! Cabbage Hats are Sailors!:rolleyes::)
By: John Green - 4th February 2012 at 10:27
Could be what they mean by: “Going Commando !”
John Green
By: Bob - 3rd February 2012 at 23:32
I expect the ladies appreciated it….
By: ppp - 3rd February 2012 at 23:20
Just watched that on Demand 5!
Did we really need to see them washing naked though?
By: Bob - 3rd February 2012 at 22:53
No camera crew – just Chris Terrill all on his lonesome with a camera. He’s got a bit of history with them having completed the Commando course and gaining the coveted green beret.
Don’t watch it if you’re offended at soldiers fighting for their lives, talking in a truthful way about the lowlife scumbags they are trying to wipe off the face of the earth…
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February 3, 2012 at 9:47 pm